THE BURNESHAS OF ALBANIA- THE “SWORN VIRGINS OF BALKAN”

INTRODUCTION:

We all think we’ve seen all there is in this world, until you come across a mind-blowing history you never could imagine exists. Most of the historical events we’ve never learned about is owing to the fact that someone has never researched on it. This  culture, originating from the European continent would never have been heard, mostly since it's a dying tradition in this day and age, but thanks to a photographer, Jill Peters, who took a special interest in "Burneshas", we can now peak into the lives and stories of the last sworn virgins of Albania. 

This article, therefore, is one of those shocking revelation you would ever get in history, as it explains the history of the Sworn Virgins of Balkan, why they switched their sexuality, and whether they still exist in recent times. 

Brace up, you’re about to have a very shocking, but exciting read!

WHO ARE THE SWORN VIRGINS OF BALKAN?

The Burneshas of Albania otherwise known as the “Sworn Virgins of Balkan” are psychological women who adopt masculine appearance and behavior to preserve the honor of their birth families. They are primarily from rural regions of northern Albania which is a country located in Southeastern Europe in the Balkan Peninsula with an Adriatic and Ionian coastline. Neighboring countries include Greece, Macedonia, Montenegro, and Kosovo.  These Burnesha live as men and refrain from marriage or sexual activity. They adopt masculine dress, hairstyle, work roles, mannerisms, and speech. 

They may even adopt behaviors that are typically only acceptable for men to practice in their communities, such as smoking, cursing, carrying arms, and drinking liquor. They are sometimes visually indistinguishable from men. However, it is not socially acceptable for them to get married or to have sexual relations of any kind.[1]

The secret should be well kept from the outside world and the decision is usually made at an early age. In addition to transforming themselves into males, these women are also required to take a vow of celibacy. [2]

In the Albanian language, there are several used  to describe a woman who has given up on her traditional gender role and chosen celibacy with male privilege. According to traditional laws, the original word used is “virgjineshe”, meaning literally “virgin.” But the more frequently used term and the term still in use today is “burrneshe”, or” burrnesha” in the plural. And even today, when this custom is almost completely gone, these terms are used to praise a woman for her characteristics which are, in these societies, desirable in men and often overlooked in women.

It is difficult to pinpoint with certainty the origin of this practice due to the lack of records. However, it was described in the kanun where it states that it is acceptable for women to live as men if their family has no or few males, if they wish to honourably reject an arranged marriage, or if they simply desire to do so (Gjecovi 2010, Ilia 1993). In practice women may choose to live as men for multiple other reasons, including to inherit their family’s property or to fight in war. 

Sworn virgins not only live as men, they are also treated and respected as men. They are included in spaces typically reserved only for men, such as village meetings and the home’s oda (the sitting/dining room).

WHY DID THESE WOMEN DECIDE TO GIVE UP THEIR SEXUALITY?

Denouncing yourself of your womanhood and looking and living like a man throughout the rest of your life might seem like madness to the women of the 21st century, but the “Sworn Virgins of Albania” have a centuries-old motivations behind this decision. In present times, we see trans persons say that the reason they became the opposite sex was because of how much they loved their dressing or wanted to be like them. But this is far from the reason why the Burnesha of Albanian give up their sexuality. 

Thus, the question is, why would a woman decide to give up her assigned gender and sexuality and take a vow of chastity?

Rural patriarchal societies in the Balkans a few centuries ago were no place to be a woman. The only way to have men’s rights was to become a man – or a Balkan sworn virgin.

In this patrilineal culture, women were subjected to many treatments that cannot be justified by today’s western standards. They were secluded and segregated, with strict requirements to remain virgins until marriage and stay with one man for the rest of their lives. As children, they were immediately dethroned of every right to family inheritance and sold into marriage without their consent. In that marriage, they had to obey their husbands blindly and continually bear and raise children, often blamed when they don’t have boys.

There are so many reasons why these women become men, but the two significant reasons why these women became Burnesha's includes: 

1. To possess social power: It is said that a “sworn virgin” is not a man in terms of sexuality but in terms of “social power.” In terms of sexuality, this person basically ceases to exist since their biological function collides with their social role. 

Hajdari who became a Burneshé to look after his deceased brother's family. He chose for Peters to photograph him outside of his house to convey hia honour and success. (From "Sworn Virgins of Albania" Jill Peters (2011)

Thus, becoming a sworn virgin means completely disregarding your sexuality to have a better societal role.  They could dress as men, use male pronouns, smoke and drink alcohol, use a male name, carry a gun, and take on male work; but also play music, sing, and sit and even talk socially with men, which, at the time, was frowned upon for women. 

Haki. He believed his destiny as a Burneshé was prophesied. He lived as a reclusive farmer before passing away in 2017 (From "Sworn Virgins of Albania" Jill Peters (2009)

More importantly, it meant they could act as head of household, protecting their mothers and sisters when all the male relatives had passed away. The gender transformation would go to such lengths that it would be hard to determine their true sexual identity with their adaptations to masculinize their speech and mannerisms.[3]

Qamile who became a Burneshé at the age of 12 to give his father the son he wanted. (From "Sworn Virgins of Albania" Jill Peters (2009)

2. To escape an arranged marriage: In some cases, it was the only chance to escape an arranged marriage, often with a much older man. Arranged marriages are slowly going out of practice in the region, but there was a time when nearly every marriage in the Balkans was arranged. Some of these arranged marriages had the people committed even before they were born. Becoming a sworn virgin was the only way for families with devoted children to refuse to fulfill a marital agreement without dishonoring the groom’s family and risking a blood feud.

Lume. He became a burneshé to avoid arranged marriage and claims to have taken the celibacy oath for the freedom it allowed him. (From "Sworn Virgins of Albania" Jill Peters (2009) 

One of the Burnesha’s by name “Diana”  during her interview with The Guardian, narrated thus:

“I know of a sad case," Diana recalls, "a young woman who fell in love with a man, but her family had promised her to someone else. The only way she could avoid getting married was to become a burrnesha."[4]

DO THE BURNESHAS STILL EXIST?

There is no certainty as to the exact number of sworn virgins who still exist today, but Young in her book, reckons that this traditional gender role change will most likely die out within one or two generations due to rapid societal change. We can only hope that the image of women that the Kanun has indoctrinated into society will change too.  [5]

According to research, though the practice dates back more than five hundred years, there are currently less than thirty known sworn virgins, as increasing freedom for women is rendering this lifestyle obsolete.

Gjystina Grishaj, a Burnesha, in her interview with the BBC, evidently, doesn’t focus on the price she paid for respect, the sacrificing of her female identity, but rather the freedom her decision afforded her.

“There will be no more burrneshat, I will be the last one”, she says.

She admits that while she might not make the same decision today, if she could go back in time she would do it all again.

“I feel proud to be a burrnesha. I have no regrets.” [6]

CONCLUSION

This article is an analysis of the Sworn Virgins of Albania, their history, the reasons they switched their sexuality, and whether they still exist in recent times.

Jill Peters who first conducted this research stated thus: 

“There was an overwhelming feeling amongst the burneshas I met that the price that they had to pay—to live as men and in celibacy—was worth the benefits they gained from fulfilling male roles within their society,” Peters says. “At its core, this tradition calls for a woman to suppress her sexuality and identity in exchange for a shot at the same opportunities a man is given at birth. I think we can all see the injustice in that.” [7]

Truly, if I had walked past any Burnesha before researching and writing this, surely I would have had a judgement to cast on why they changed their sexuality. But now, all I see is bravery and courage to spite culture and take on the masculine role. And I’m pretty sure this was the thought in your mind as you sighed in relief after reading this. Thus, I’m glad I made this research for you and I’m satisfied you read it too.

So maybe, as a woman, the next time you feel like becoming a man to showcase your feminism and spite societal standards, you should visit Albania and endeavor to become one of the sworn virgins. At least, it is legit, they say. But, don’t forget you won’t get married till forever.

END NOTES

[1] www.in-formality.com/wiki/index.php?title=Burnesha_(Albania)

[2] https://www.dailysabah.com/balkans/2014/03/14/meet-the-last-sworn-virgins-of-the-albanian-alps

[3] https://www.thecollector.com/balkan-sworn-virgins/

[4] https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/aug/05/women-celibacy-oath-men-rights-albania

[5] https://tippingpoint.net/sworn-virgins/

[6] https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-63904744

[7] https://www.afar.com/magazine/intimate-portraits-women-who-live-as-men-in-remote-albania

AUTHOR

OGO GLADYS AMARACHI