Sworn Virgins In Rural Albania

In rural Albania families who follow The Kanun, “must be patrilineal (meaning wealth is inherited through a families men) and patrilocal (upon marriage, a women moves into the household of her husband's family)” (Crossing Boundaries). Marriage is usually arranged at birth and once a woman is married she then becomes the property of her husbands family. Female dominance ceases to exist under The Kanun rule; instead male dominance is the focal point; hence the patrilineal and patrilocal aspects of the ruling system (Crossing Boundaries). It is understood that a female’s only responsibility only goes as far as to cook, clean, reproduce and serve guests. They are women living in a mans world with a lack of basic human rights, responsibility, and

Sworn Virgins provides hope to females living in rural Albania, for it is the only ethical way of gaining freedom that men have. Sworn virgins have the same roles and responsibilities that the male sex is granted upon birth. These duties include: being the head of the household, monitoring the wealth and labor for the family, defending family feuds among others, and receiving guests (Crossing Boundaries). Females are granted none of the abovementioned responsibilities. Aside from cleaning, cooking, and reproducing, it is a females job to serve guests in traditional white aprons (Young 2000, p.71). Perhaps their traditional white apron symbolizes their duty to serve males in life while constantly living in the shadows of

This evidence was shown through the stories of Pashke and other Sworn Virgins. Pashke became a sworn virgin due to her uncles deteriorating health; it was necessary for Pashke to make long journeys to visit her uncle. She stated that a female would not be able to make journeys, she went on to say, “ to dress as a man earns the respect of a man,” therefore, she became a Sworn Virgin. Here we can see that it was necessary to do so in Pashke’s situation in order to provide and care for her uncle (Young, 2000, p. 77). Also, when a male head of household is needed in the event of a death, it is necessary for one to become a sworn virgin. The article points this out through the death of Shkurtan’s older brother. This was also the case for Selman, a Sworn Virgin who lost her father; (Young, 2000, p. 85) there was a need for a head of household and patriarchal lineage in the family consequently they became sworn