The chapter explores why women remain underrepresented in Samoan politics by grounding the analysis in Samoan cultural values, social structures, and local understandings of leadership. It argues that political participation cannot be understood through Western frameworks alone, because factors such as the fa’a Samoa, the matai (chiefly) system, kinship obligations, Christianity, and gendered social expectations all shape who is seen as a legitimate leader. These cultural and structural dynamics create barriers that limit women’s access to political power, even as reforms and advocacy efforts attempt to expand their representation. By weaving together cultural narratives and political analysis, the chapter shows that meaningful change requires approaches that reflect Samoan worldviews and the lived realities of Samoan women.