I'm not out here trying to disregard malu wearers. That would mean going against my own flesh and blood - friends - acquaintances - women I look up to - and the list goes on.
What I'm trying to say is:
You don't have to get a malu to prove your worth.
I love that more young women are getting tattooed.
I love that our Samoan culture and history and art is expanding as Samoans are finding their place in the world in different countries.
And girls, so many girls, being proud of their malu.
Unfortunately, it is slowly painting an unrealistic picture of what it means to be a Samoan girl.
Living in America, I have witnessed a handful of girls who don't have malus feeling inadequate just because they don't have it on their legs.
Girl, it's not that serious.
Whether or not you can speak Samoan, whether or not you can do feaus or not (actually, I take this one back - please know how to do some kind of feau), whether you can understand what happens at faalavelaves - any Samoan related activity - you are still an authentic Samoan girl.
Don't give in to the pressure.
Educate yourself first on what it means to get a malu.
You're not less of a Samoan girl without one.
I don't have one, and maybe one day I will, maybe I won't, who knows.
But the lack of a malu, will not define who I am as a Samoan girl.
The lack of a malu will not categorize me as a halfway-there Samoan girl.
No honey, not me. Not you. Not ever.
Remember, e au le inailau a tamaitai.
With or without a malu, darling.
Now let me get back to my laundry... lol
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