Commonwealth Short Story Prize
1 appearances
-
Edition 7 (2018) Winner
Jenny Bennett-Tuionetoa
ジェニー・ベネット＝トゥイオネトア
Jenny Bennett-Tuionetoa
Profile
- Gender
- Unknown
- Born
- null （Samoa）
- Died
- null
- Nationality
- Samoa
- Languages
- Samoan, English
Career
- Occupations
- Writer, LGBTQ rights activist, English teacher
- Active Years
- 2008-
Education
| Institution | Faculty | Department | Degree | Period | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of the South Pacific | — | — | Bachelor's | — | Samoa |
University of the South Pacific
Degree:
Bachelor's
Year of Graduation:
2013
Country:
Samoa
Pursued a master's degree in literature at the same university (as of early 2021).
Awards
| Year | Award | Work | Category | Organization | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Samoa Observer Tusitala Short Story Competition (Samoan category) | Matalasi | サモア部門 | Samoa Observer Tusitala | Winner |
| 2018 | Commonwealth Short Story Prize (Pacific region) | Matalasi | 太平洋地域 | Commonwealth Foundation | Winner (regional) |
Samoa Observer Tusitala Short Story Competition (Samoan category)
2017
Work:
Matalasi
Category:
サモア部門
Organization:
Samoa Observer Tusitala
Result:
Winner
Commonwealth Short Story Prize (Pacific region)
2018
Work:
Matalasi
Category:
太平洋地域
Organization:
Commonwealth Foundation
Result:
Winner (regional)
Awards & Nominations
Works
Major Works
Matalasi
2018 Short storyA short story that explores the experiences of a fa'afatama (a third gender in Samoan culture). Through the life of a person assigned female at birth who embodies both masculine and feminine traits, the story examines identity, belonging, and family relationships.
Gender identityThird gender (fa'afatama)BelongingFamily
Translations
- English (published in Granta)
Bibliography
- Matalasi (short story)
- Short stories and essays in Samoa Observer and others (from c.2008)
Translations of Works
- Matalasi — English version (published in Granta)
Style & Themes
- Literary Style
- Concise, empathetic proseNarration woven with cultural context
- Recurring Motifs
- Quest for identityGender and corporealityFamily and community
Health
-
Depression (adolescence)思春期〜青年期Experienced depression and low self-esteem in adolescence, which later became a catalyst for beginning to write.
Legacy
Jenny Bennett-Tuionetoa is a Samoan writer and LGBTQ activist who gained regional recognition. Her short story "Matalasi" won the Commonwealth Short Story Prize (Pacific region), helping to spark discussion about gender and identity in Samoa.
Quotes
-
I began writing in my early 20s. The struggles of my youth became the driving force to put words down.
Source: Commonwealth Foundation (essay "One foot taller") (2018)
Trivia
- First short story published in the Samoa Observer around 2008.
- Won the Samoa Observer Tusitala Short Story Competition (Samoan category) in 2017.
- Won the Commonwealth Short Story Prize (Pacific region) in 2018.
- Known as non-binary.
- Taught English at the University of the South Pacific Alafua campus from 2014 to 2016.