The Virgins. Albania’s Sworn Virgins Who Pursue A True Man’s Path

For centuries, a very unusual tradition has been practiced in Albania; women who choose to become burrneshas, or sworn virgins. They become men virtual to represent their families in this deeply patriarchal society. The ancient practice was established under a medieval code of laws known as the ‘Kanun’, which among other things set out the legal framework of everyday life, such as the rules for conducting a blood feud and the roles and responsibilities of men and women. By becoming a burrnesha, a woman gai