The Sworn Virgins of Albania - Women Who Become Men

The first sworn virgin was born out of social necessity. If the patriarch of the family dies and there is no male heir, an unmarried woman in the family could take on the role of a man and head the family. She takes an irrevocable oath, in front of twelve village or tribal elders, to practice celibacy, and from that day on she becomes a man. She can wear pants, own property, take on male work and entitled to all the rights and privileges of the male population.