Just had this article in Guardian forwarded by a friend:

“In the rigidly patriarchal society of the remote mountain villages of northern Albania and beyond, they have a unique way of providing a head of the household when there is no male heir, or the men of the family have died in battle. A girl – or her parents – may declare that she has become a “male”. From then on, she – now he – will be brought up and dressed as a boy/man, perform male tasks and mix socially as a male with boys. He will become the head of the family, organise the division of labour and wealth, be permitted to carry a weapon and uphold the family honour in blood feuds.

It has always been assumed in this region that every unmarried female is a virgin but, with a change of gender, the “sworn virgin” swears to celibacy for life (traditionally an oath to this effect was taken in front of a dozen village elders – all men, of course). He may never revert to the gender of his birth. In this way, inheritance of the family home and land is assured in a society in which women may not inherit property.”

Bizarre.

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