Doris Tulifau

Tulifau grew up in a Samoan family in San Francisco.{{Cite web |title=Activist and Founder of Brown Girl Woke, Doris Tulifau {{!}} "With consistency, resilience, and the right team, the impact of your hard work will come through" |url=https://www.southpacificislander.org/blog/2020/5/18/doris-tulifau |access-date=January 11, 2025 |website=South Pacific Islander Organization |language=en-US}} Her parents are Samoan, but had grown up in New Zealand before emigrating to the United States.{{Cite news |last1=Roy |first1=Eleanor Ainge |last2=Jong |first2=Eleanor de |date=September 3, 2019 |title='The silence is suffocating': family abuse 'epidemic' uncovered in Samoa |url=https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2019/sep/03/family-abuse-epidemic-uncovered-in-samoa |access-date=January 11, 2025 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}} After Tulifau completed high school, her family moved to Modesto, where they purchased a church since her father was a pastor. She studied for a BA in Education and Psychology at Sacramento State University, and also studied there for an MA in Multicultural Education. She considered doing a PhD, but ultimately wanted to work within community settings.

Tulifau is the founder of Brown Girl Woke (B.G.W.), which she initially established as an online campaign in 2014; she then moved to Samoa in 2018 to expand the organisation. B.G.W. is a feminist group that supports women and girls and campaigns against domestic violence in Samoa.{{Cite web |date=May 24, 2024 |title=Feminist activists from the Pacific reflect on the impact of the Beijing Declaration ahead of +30 Regional Review |url=https://asiapacific.unwomen.org/en/stories/feature-story/2024/05/feminist-activists-from-the-pacific-reflect-on-the-impact-of-the-beijing-30 |access-date=January 11, 2025 |website=UN Women – Asia-Pacific |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=ANZ Bank gives food for families in need |url=https://www.samoaobserver.ws/category/samoa/65707 |access-date=January 11, 2025 |website=Samoa Observer |language=en}} The group uses social media and meetings on college campuses to raise awareness of women's rights, with both men and women joining the group. As of 2023 there were regular meetings at National University of Samoa and The University of the South Pacific, as well as schools based initiatives.{{Cite web |date=July 12, 2023 |title='Brown Girl Woke' initiative fights culture of silence in the Pacific |work=The Australia Today |url=https://www.theaustraliatoday.com.au/brown-girl-woke-initiative-fights-culture-of-silence-in-the-pacific/ |access-date=January 11, 2025 |language=en-AU}} During the COVID-19 pandemic, the organisation received a donation of face masks to distribute to community members.{{Cite web |title=Tailoring firm donates face masks to B.G.W. |url=https://www.samoaobserver.ws/category/samoa/61673 |access-date=January 11, 2025 |website=Samoa Observer |language=en}}

In the course of her career Tulifau has spoken out on how the Samoan customary law, ifoga, is not suitable for use in cases of domestic violence.{{Cite web |date=August 19, 2024 |title=Is customary law appropriate when dealing with gender-based or sexual violence in the Pacific? |url=https://www.abc.net.au/pacific/customary-apology-samoa-ifoga-fiji-bulubulu-gender-violence/104197312 |access-date=January 11, 2025 |website=ABC Pacific |language=en-AU}} She has also called on the Samoan government to have a zero tolerance approach to gender-based violence.{{Cite web |title=Clarity on anti-violence messaging vital |url=https://www.samoaobserver.ws/category/samoa/96646 |access-date=January 11, 2025 |website=Samoa Observer |language=en}} In 2024, she attended the 4th Small Island Developing States Conference and Gender Equality Forum, along with Samoan government officials and other activists, such as Nadia Meredith Hunt and Adelaide Nafoi.{{Cite web |date=May 23, 2024 |title=Samoa joins 4th Small Island Developing States Conference and Gender Equality Forum |url=https://asiapacific.unwomen.org/en/stories/news/2024/05/samoa-joins-4th-sids |access-date=January 11, 2025 |website=UN Women – Asia-Pacific |language=en}}

Tulifau is also a podcaster, and television and radio host.{{Cite web |last=Tulifau |first=Doris |date=November 8, 2024 |title=How Brown Girl Woke is Driving CHOGM 2024's Long-Term Impact on Pacific Youth Engagement |url=https://www.royalcwsociety.org/post/how-brown-girl-woke-is-driving-chogm-2024-s-long-term-impact-on-pacific-youth-engagement |access-date=January 11, 2025 |publisher=Royal Commonwealth Society |language=en}}

Tulifau is a victim of gender-based violence. She has two siblings.{{Cite web |title=The Polynesian Effect - Doris Tulifau |url=https://www.thepolynesianeffect.com/past-features/broadcasting/doris-tulifau |access-date=January 11, 2025 |website=www.thepolynesianeffect.com |language=en-US}} Palusami is her favourite food from Polynesia.

• [https://www.ted.com/talks/doris_tulifau_making_it_safe_to_speak_about_sexual_abuse?subtitle=en Making it Safe to Speak about Sexual Abuse] (TedX)
• [https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/programmes/datelinepacific/audio/2018863371/talanoa-with-brown-girl-woke-founder-maleseu-doris-tulifau Talanoa with 'Brown Girl Woke' founder Male seu Doris Tulifau] (RNZ)
• [https://www.sapiens.org/culture/samoan-women-voices-survival/ Weaving Stories: Two Women Speak] (Sapiens podcast)

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Category:Living people

Category:1990s births

Category:Year of birth uncertain

Category:21st-century Samoan women

Category:Activists from San Francisco

Category:American people of Samoan descent

Category:California State University, Sacramento alumni

Category:Samoan activists

Category:Samoan women activists

Category:Women human rights activists

Category:Women's rights activists