Women Who Become Men: Albanian Sworn Virgins

by Antonia Young, Joanne B. Eicher (Series Editor)

Most people conceive of gender as a culturally informed response to a biological imperative. But such rigid notions are overturned by certain women in remote regions of Albania who elect to 'become' men simply for the advantages that accrue to them as a result. They crop their hair, wear men's clothes, roll their own cigarettes, drink brandy and carry guns. In short, their lives are much freer and less regimented than other members of their sex - but at a cost. These women must foreswear sexual relationships, marriage and children. They have been dubbed 'Sworn Virgins'.What is interesting is that in this region of the Balkans, simply to dress as a man and to behave as a man will earn these women the same respect accorded a man. This is no mean advantage in an area known for sexual inequality and where so many men have suffered violent, premature deaths, thereby heightening the need for more household heads. Traditionally as heads of household, men are revered and the women who attend them utterly subservient. But unlike 'normal' women, Sworn Virgins can inherit and manage property, and, in fact, may even be raised to assume the male role by parents who have no male heirs. Based on extensive interviews, this book tells the frank and engrossing stories of these women, but also sets their lives within the wider context of a country undergoing radical upheaval and social transformation.

Genres: Nonfiction, Gender, Anthropology, Queer, Womens, Sexuality, Gender and Sexuality

196 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2000

Reviews

[Sonya · Rating 5 out of 5]

مطالعات انسان شناسی گاهی آداب و رسومی در نقاط مختلف جهان گزارش می کند که برای افراد کشورهای دیگر و یا حتی افراد خود آن کشور عجیب و باور نکردنی می باشد، این کتاب حاصل مطالعات هشت ساله ی خانم آنتونیا یانگ در کشور آلبانی واقع در شبه جزیره ی بالکان می باشد.
موضوع مورد مطالعه در این کتاب "باکره های قسم خورده" در این کشورمی باشد، گرچه در سایر نقاط دنیا نیز زنانی که بنا به دلایل و سنت های مختلف اقدام به حفظ تجرد و باکرگی نمونه اند، وجود دارد. آنچه باعث تمایز این گروه می باشد ظاهر مرد گونه و پذیرفته شدن این افراد در جمع مردان جامعه می باشد. در تاریخ این کشور قوانین سنتی به نام "کــَنون" وجود دارد که در اثری دوازده جلدی در مورد سنت ها و آداب رسوم زندگی قومی و موارد دیگری از جمله مهمان نوازی، خونخواهی، انتقام و ارثیه توضیحات مفصلی داده شده است که زندگی این افراد تحت تاثیر این قوانین می باشد، این زنان مرد شده نیز بر طبق قوانین کنون در سه حالت می توانند قسم باکرگی و ورود به دنیای مردان را ادا کنند.
حالت اول هنگامی هست که دختر از ازدواج با مردی که قبل تولد و یا در دوران کودکی برایش در نظر گرفته شده است سر باز زند. در این حالت دختر انتخاب دیگری جز مرد شدن ندارد. حالت دوم که رواج بیشتری دارد و اکثر افراد این گروه را شامل می شود، زنانی هستند که به علت نبود سرپرست مرد مناسب در خانواده و یا نبودن وارث پسر برای اداره زمین ها و املاک مجبور به مرد بودن هستند و این افراد معمولا از طرف خانواده و بزرگان قبیله به این کار وادار می شوند. دسته سوم که به ندرت دیده می شود دختران و زنانی هستند که برای استفاده از امتیاز اتی که جامعه به مردان می دهد به این قسم رو می آورند. نکته ی جالب توجه در مورد این زنان، پذیرش کامل جامعه به عنوان یک مرد و دادن حق شرکت در تمامی فعالیت های مردانه و تبعیت سایر زنان از این گروه می باشد. این زنان که حتی لباس ظاهر، طرز حرکت و رفتار خود را نیز شبیه مردان می کنند، اکثرا از دوران کودکی وارد این نقش می شوند و بیشتر آنها تمامی رفتارها و نیاز های زانه ی خود را سرکوب کرده اند.
در مورد این سنت عجیب که بیشتر در شمال آلبانی دیده می شد و هنوز هم نمونه هایی وجود دارد، مهمترین علت آن تامین نیاز های اقتصادی خانواده می باشد و برخلاف آنچه در ابتدا به نظر می رسد این سنت در جهت حق خواهی زنان برای حقوق مساوی با مردان نیست و این زنان نه تنها از زیر سلطه در نیامده اند بلکه زیر سلطه ی مضاعفی قرار گرفته اند و این مرد شدن آنها نه یک انتخاب آزاد شخصی بلکه یک انتخاب اجباری از طرف دیگران است. حتی کمبود مردانی که به علت کشتار های خونین از بین رفته بودند از این طریق جبران شده است. این پیمان زنان باکره قابل شکست و بازگشت نمی باشد و این زنان در مورد بازگشت به دنیای زنانه ی قبلی خود حتی فکر هم نمی کنند و حتی ابراز نارضایتی از این حالت نیز ننگ به شمار می آید و این افراد خود را نه باکره ای قسم خورده بلکه مردی آبرومند قلمداد می کنند که در صورت لزوم در جنگ و خون خواهی نیز شرکت می کنند.
پ ن : این سنت یک نقش اجتماعی و فرهنگی بوده و این زنان فاقد هرگونه انحراف جنسی فیزیولوژیکی و یا روانشناختی هستند.

[Kavita · Rating 2 out of 5]

The phenomenon of sworn virgins is not exclusive to Albania. In recent times, it has also been observed in Afghanistan, and many other places where women's status is socially inferior. But it is always interesting to know how this worked in the Albanian context. But this book will not help to understand much about this.

Women Who Become Men: Albanian Sworn Virgins is a misnomer because the book in no way concentrates on this aspect of Albanian culture. Most of the book is dedicated to exploring the various features of life in general and the subject of sworn virgins is just shoved into the narrative at some points. There is only one chapter in which different women turned men are presented as examples. However, this is in no way a sufficient analysis of this subject. Edith Durham, whose High Albania I read a while ago, goes into this in much more detail. In fact, Young often also quotes Durham and uses her experiences extensively. For anyone who has even a very basic knowledge of this subject, this book is not helpful.

On the other hand, the author does provide a brief overview of the general culture of Albania, especially in the rural areas, with respect to gender and sexuality. I found Durham's work more comprehensive, but Young presents a more academic approach. As an introduction to general Albanian culture, this is a decent enough work.

My own idea about the existence of sworn virgins is simple. It just proves that patriarchy is a sham. If women can 'become' men and do everything they want, then women who remain women can do exactly the same. What a con to pull on women over the centuries!

[Cheri · Rating 5 out of 5]

I saw this on a list and was baffled by the title as I had never heard of the Albanian women who become men. The book is an anthropological monograph that I am not trained to judge as such, but it was totally fascinating and I learned a great deal about patriarchy (apparently Albania is the most patriarchal society known) and about the whys and hows of a woman "becoming" a man in that society. I was most surprised at the complete acceptance of these women as men. I recommend the book not only for the information it contains, but as a way to become more aware of how constrained we are by the assumptions of our own society. Oh, and there are lots of pictures. ;)

[Sabrina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this as part of my dissertation research (focusing on clothing and gender identity construction). This book was really interesting, and really does a good job of describing the Albanian society and it's patriarchal rules and strict codes of honour, and everything that stems from that.

Although at some points it felt like it deviated slightly from talking about the 'sworn virgins', the description of other aspects of society, e.g. bloodfeuds, the economy and general fashions of dress helped to contextualise the phenomenon. I found especially interesting that economic concerns (i.e. heading a household) are far more important than individual desires/gender identity/sexuality to a woman's or her family's choice for her to become a 'sworn virgin'. Young also brought in some cross-cultural comparisons which allowed for further analysis of the 'sworn virgins' tradition.

Overall, an enjoyable read which I learnt a lot from - especially about wider Albanian society, which I wasn't necessarily expecting to from the book title.

[barry · Rating 3 out of 5]

sometimes the writing style seemed a bit chaotic and repetitive, still very interesting content!

[Casey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a collection of journal articles that tells the story of virginesha- sworn virgins of Albania, theirs lives and place in society. I found the phenomenon of a socially acceptable manner of gender change in a masculine dominated society very interesting, that they were able to transcend the restrictive role of women in society and were able to be released from being, in a manner, sold labor between families, to become respected members, even heads of households, with all rights normally conveyed to men. The book gives a good description of the history of gender issues for women in Northern Albania, as well as other interesting information about blood feuds, history of the women's movement, dress, and the kanun.

[Vuk Vukotić · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a great introduction into the fascinating phenomenon of 'sworn virgins', women who become socially recognized as men in rural parts of the Balkans. Unfortunately, it is not more than an introduction. The reader-friendly style and the (somewhat slightly sentimantal) narrative leads the reader into a rather short and somewhat basic analysis of the "dress" of the sworn virgins. The hinted gender-based and feminist perspective is largely absent, only a short comment remains of how these findings inform debates on sex and gender in the West.
Still, a very pleasurable read, provides lots of context, highly recommended to those new to the topic.

[Parisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

way more bloodfeud content than expected. learned a lot about traditional albanian culture, but a deeper understanding of sworn virgins feels caught behind layers of cultural / generational translation

[Mantha Carr · Rating 3 out of 5]

Don't know that I'd want to have been a sworn virgin. But super interesting and more than mildly infuriating lol

[Amanda Kole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Queer, academic, good and thoughtful.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very interesting. Borrowed this from a Dutch friend who lived for several years in Albania. Just made a quick trip through Albania ourselves recently.

[Lovisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

The subject is a very interesting one. I would have wished that it would have been more personal and more about the "virgins" life rather than research book.