Ever heard of a burrnesha?

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An interesting article about a woman who took a vow of celibacy and lives as a man in Albania.

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/aug/05/women-celibacy-...

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Re: Ever heard of a burrnesha?

Greetings

I had read about the women of Albania some years ago, but didn't remember the name.

Of course, it is only about a hundred years since most women in the United Kingdom were considered mere chattels of the male head of the household.

Brian

Physician, Heal Thyself

My initial reaction: just because this woman has chosen to reject the role society has earmarked for her, she somehow becomes male?

Then I thought about it for a while.

Not too long, which I hope is to my credit.

I suppose that recognising your ingrained prejudices is the first step towards eradicating them.

Ban nothing. Question everything.

You're not alone...

Ragtime Rachel's picture

...because I thought the same thing, to be honest, and thought similarly about the hiijra of India. (And I do hope I'm spelling that right). But then it occurred to me that our way of expressing our true gender identity--taking hormones as well as undergoing surgery--is but one way of doing so for a person who falls outside the gender norm. Far be it from me to question how they resolve that conflict within themselves.

Livin' A Ragtime Life,
aufder.jpg

Rachel

Custom still alive everywhere

Rhona McCloud's picture

Reading the article I was struck that all over the world many, maybe even most women at some stage stop presenting themselves as primarily sexual beings, although usually not adopting male clothes. We treat that as a natural part of life without formalising it with a name but in practical terms the results are similar

Rhona McCloud

I think

Angharad's picture

the main character in this report might well have had gender issues.

Angharad