Sword Virgins in Albania

From: Grawe, Philipp <pgrawe_at_tusc.com.au>
Date: Tue, 23 Jan 2001 13:05:48 +1100

I found this on the web, no idea if it's true, it was in the
"Interesting Facts" section. It struck me as applicable in the
discussion on Babeester Gor, Vinga (or Yelorna) being allowed to bear children.

• ---------------------------------------------------------------- In rural Northern Albania, there is an unusual custom. Girls or women may essentially change their gender to that of a male by taking an oath to become a "sworn virgin." Basically, the girl or woman promises to never marry, never bear children, and to remain celibate. She then crops her hair and dresses as a man, adopts the mannerisms of a man, performs men's labor, and is accorded the status and respect deemed worthy of a male.
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Why do girls do this?

The custom, which is hundreds of years old and still around, is thought by scholars to be a response to a shortage of young men to head families. Many young men in the region are lost to conflict, including "blood feuds" between family groups. Often, a
"sworn virgin" takes on the masculine role as a child or teenager
in order to provide a family with someone who can inherit the family's land (women are not permitted to inherit land or head a household, but a "sworn virgin" may do both). In other cases, a girl or woman chooses to become a "sworn virgin" to avoid an unwanted marriage (marriages are arranged). It's not a bad deal, as women in the region are regarded as lesser then men and play a subservient role in the family. Once a woman takes the oath, she really is regarded by the village as a male and may do many things a woman cannot, including socialize with other men in a room women are not permitted to enter (except to serve food). In fact, in some cases, the village forgets her true gender. - ---

Can the "sworn virgin" change her mind and become female again?

Not really. There have been cases of "sworn virgins" breaking the oath and even marrying, but it's a risky proposition. The oath is taken seriously and to break it brings shame onto the entire family group. Breaking the oath could even initiate a "blood feud" and place the "sworn virgin" and male members of her family at risk of being killed. This may happen in cases where the
"sworn virgin" breaks her oath to marry. Her previous, (rejected)
fiancee (and his entire family) is thus dishonored and is obligated to avenge the dishonor.

For more information about Albanian "sworn virgins" (as well as a fascinating read!), get a copy of Antonia Young's "Women Who Become Men: Albanian Sworn Virgins," published by Berg, an imprint of Oxford International Publishers Ltd., in 2000.

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