historium:Balkan sworn virgins- Balkan sworn virgins are women in the Balkan nations ofAlbania, Koso
historium:Balkan sworn virgins- Balkan sworn virgins are women in the Balkan nations ofAlbania, Kosovo, Macedonia, Serbia, Montenegro, Croatia, and Bosnia; whotake a vow of chastity and live as men. The reasons why someone becomes a swornvirgin are varied, including wanting to avoid an arranged marriage, identifyingas a man or being attracted to women, or wanting the privileges usually affordto men in society. The sworn virgin oath, the Kanun, is irreligious,allowing Catholics, Orthodox, and Muslims to join. Today, sworn virginsare mostly found in Macedonia and Albania. The Communist Albanian governmentattempted to stamp out the practice, but there has been some resurgence in itsince the 1990s. -- source link