Women Who Become Men: Albanian Sworn Virgins (Dress, Body, Culture) [Paperback]

Antonia Young (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1859733409 | ISBN-13: 978-1859733400 | Publication Date: August 1, 2001 | Edition: First Edition

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.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Women Who Become Men is a fascinating exploration of male and female social roles, and the ways in which cross-gendering can be a response to particular social or demographic pressures." --Times Literary Supplement

"A fascinating study of the phenomena that is the Albanian sworn virgin ... The importance of this book in anthropological terms cannot be denied." --Besa for Friends of Albania

"Young has undoubtedly produced the best and most detailed study in English of the way in which gender change is handled in one European society." --Peace News

"Antonia Young's book is doubtless a very great contribution to the knowledge of historical and contemporary Balkan cultures." --Anthropology of East Europe Review

"An invaluable contribution to Albanology and anthropology in general." --Illyria

"Antonia Young has written a provocative book ... A strength of Young's book is that she clearly articulates the primary motivations for becoming a sworn virgin in Albanian society. She provides the necessary background on Albanian history and culture, particularly on household structure, which explains why sworn virgins are a necessity to their families." --Dress

"It makes easy and balanced reading, this interesting work tells about an ancient tradition in modern times." --Newsletter Albanien

"The author has treated us to a delicious appetizer ... it has made us hungry for more." --Anthropological Theory

"[The book] rushes us through a medley of topics ranging from life after communism, through aprons and veils, to a wolrd tour of gender change." --SEER

"The importance of Antonia Young's book lies, first of all, in discussing a subject little known except to a few specialists and reminding us how important the institution of 'Sworn Virgins' became in in patrilineal societies of the Balkans as well as documenting their life histories, well illustrated with pictures of some of the Albanian cases." --The South Slav Journal

About the Author

Antonia Young, University College London.

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Berg Publishers; First Edition edition (August 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1859733409
• ISBN-13: 978-1859733400
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6.1 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #298,740 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Literary gem!, June 8, 2002

By 

Greg Allup (Torrance, California United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Women Who Become Men: Albanian Sworn Virgins (Dress, Body, Culture) (Paperback)

I am a devoted academic researcher on Albanian culture. As an Albanologist having this book in my collection of Albanian studies is a true gem. The Albanians have a very fascinating and complex culture. Albanian culture is one of the most fascinating and complex cultures of all the European cultures.
Despite being one of Europe's least known cultures this book on Albanian sworn virgins gives a fantastic background on just one aspect of Gheg clan culture (North Albanian Culture) that predominates in Northern Albania and Kosovo. Antonia Young delivers valuable cultural insight on elements of the cultural phenomenon of sworn virgins. The tradition of sworn virgins has deep roots in the cultural traditions of the clans living in Northern Albania and Kosovo. The Ghegs are the most numerous of the Albanian population and compose of all North Albanians and Albanians in Kosovo, Montenegro, Macedonia. The Ghegs have a unique culture based on the clan system and extended family. The clan and extended family system is in full gear in the North of Albania and in neighboring Kosovo where on occasion a sworn virgin can be seen clinging on to the traditions that have engulfed this portion of the Balkans since the occupation of the Ottoman Empire and even prior to that. In reading this book not only will one interested in Albanian culture become knwoledgeable of a cutural practice that is little known to the outside world, but will also introduce to you the elements of the culture that comprises the Ghegs (North Albanians).
The most important thing is that the book summarizes and clarifies the cultural traits that unite Kosovars and North Albanians together and how not only linguistically, but culturally and politically North Albania and Kosovo are the same nation!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Fascinating Spotlight on One Mosaic of Albanian Culture, July 7, 2009

By 

Bonam Pak (Berlin) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Women Who Become Men: Albanian Sworn Virgins (Dress, Body, Culture) (Paperback)

This is a book rather for those interested in gender studies than in Albania. However, there is plenty of information on some other aspects of Albanian culture unrelated to sworn virgins, such as laws of honor, hospitality and blood feuds. The author describes, how these sworn virgins fit in neatly.

Sworn virgins are biological females who behave like men (but not engaging in sexuality) in a severely patriarchal, gender dichotomous and dogma-loving society, transcending the branches of religion. At least that is the impression I gain from this book.

I read the paperback edition of 2001, which contains 33 monochrome pictures. Including the latter and footnotes, it features some 160 text pages. Originally, the book was published in 2000.

You may also be interested in When Men Are Women: Manhood Among The Gabra Nomads Of East Africa and Male Daughters, Female Husbands: Gender and Sex in an African Society. A brief introduction including a chapter on Albanian sworn virgins can be found in Gender Diversity: Crosscultural Variations.

6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Exotic and interesting, December 8, 2002

By 

J (Washington) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Women Who Become Men: Albanian Sworn Virgins (Dress, Body, Culture) (Paperback)

This book was fascinating for presenting a little seen side of an exotic and interesting custom in Albania. The stories and interviews were amazing and well worth the read for anyone intersted in other cultures. It lacked a little in theoretical backing and proper methodology but a fascinating read nonetheless!