["The American Journal of Economics and Sociology, Volume 81, Issue 1, Page 225-237, January 2022. ", "\nAbstract\nThe search for identity, security, and recognition by the women of Samoa is both a cultural issue and a personal one. This article offers an analysis of the issues facing Samoan women, making use of both social science research and two popular Disney films—Lilo & Stitch and Moana—that deal generally with Polynesian culture and specifically with the kinds of developemental issues facing women. Although Samoan women are facing the social dislocations caused by modernization, the mythic elements in movies that draw upon Polynesian legends can provide guidance. In addition, I draw upon one of my favorite films, Little Women, to reflect on how I continue to navigate emerging gender roles and expectations. As a woman living in Samoa, my own experience serves as a window into our culture, so I draw upon my own personal questions in reflecting on the material presented in fiction that helps us solve the problems that arise as cultures collide.\n"]