DOCSLIB.ORG

|||GET||| Women Who Become Men Albanian Sworn Virgins 1St Edition

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
|||GET||| Women Who Become Men Albanian Sworn Virgins 1St Edition WOMEN WHO BECOME MEN ALBANIAN SWORN VIRGINS 1ST EDITION DOWNLOAD FREE A Young | 9781859733400 | | | | | Women Who Become Men: Albanian Sworn Virgins Tove rated it it was amazing Dec 06, Edith Durham, whose High Albania I read a while ago, goes into this in much more detail. Overall, an enjoyable read which I learnt a lot from - especially about wider Albanian society, which I wasn't necessarily expecting to from the book title. There are also establishments that they cannot enter. There is an image of the Madonna on the table and an apple core. For anyone who has even a very basic knowledge of this subject, this book is not helpful. I found especially interesting that economic concerns i. But I never wanted to marry. About Antonia Young. To a lesser extent, the practice exists, or has existed, in other parts of the western Balkans, including BosniaDalmatia CroatiaSerbia and Northern Macedonia. According to Marina Warnerthe sworn virgin's "true sex will never again, on pain Women Who Become Men Albanian Sworn Virgins 1st edition death, be alluded to either in her presence or out of it. But such rigid notions are overturned by certain women in remote regions of Albania who elect to 'become' men simply for the advantages that accrue to them as a result. Continue on UK site. I am never scared. Bibliography of works on wartime cross-dressing Rebecca Riots Women Who Become Men Albanian Sworn Virgins 1st edition Trousers as women's clothing Gender non-conformance Transgender. The reader-friendly style and the somewhat slightly sentimantal narrative leads the reader into a rather short and somewhat basic analysis of the "dress" of the sworn virgins. A widow without sons traditionally had few options in Albania: she could return to her Women Who Become Men Albanian Sworn Virgins 1st edition family, stay on as a servant in the family of her deceased husband, or remarry. Sometimes family ties were decided before a child was even born. Dual-role transvestism Transvestic fetishism. In Shaw, Alison; Ardener, Shirley eds. Ahem, sir. It is cold and she is old, though she has forgotten exactly how old. Bent double, she struggles to roll a cigarette, starting again several times because her hands shake so much. Women started gaining legal rights and came closer to having equal social status, especially in the central and southern regions. Home Page World U. Recalling his oath, Diana strikes the table. I read this as part of my dissertation research focusing on clothing and gender identity construction. No trivia or quizzes yet. Cerovic strikes a match. Still others became sworn virgins to express their autonomy. In film and television In literature In music and opera. View all 4 comments. Women Who Become Men Albanian Sworn Virgins 1st edition she talked to women, she recalled, they recoiled in shyness. Unlike Diana, she always refers to herself as a woman. Gender and Sexuality. Her only concession to her gender was her long hair, until she cut it, aged Even as a young girl, aged seven, he had started smoking the lula, the long Albanian pipe. Stema said she would die a virgin. Diana name changed told us this story with a mixture of amusement and indignation. Traditionally as heads of household, men are revered and the women who attend them utterly subservient. Origins Timeline Archives. Jun 12, Cheri rated it it was amazing Shelves: nonfictionwomen. In the highlands having a boy child has always been seen as a blessing, and the fact that Cerovic was not a boy was taken as a misfortune, she explains. He prefers the company of men. Sworn to virginity and living as men in Albania The sworn virgin became "a warrior in disguise to defend her family like a man. The importance of this book in anthropological terms cannot be denied. At the mention of choice, which merits special emphasis, she becomes more animated, or perhaps we should say "he"; Diana uses the masculine to refer to himself. The motives for such a choice were exclusively social, not prompted by sexuality or any physical changes. Traditionally as heads of household, men are Women Who Become Men Albanian Sworn Virgins 1st edition and the women who attend them utterly subservient. Dickemann suggests mothers may have played an important role in persuading children to become sworn virgins. Then takes another drag on his cigarette. Thanks for telling us about the problem. Gender roles Intersex Sex and gender distinction Sexuality and gender identity-based cultures Social construction of gender. Her only concession to her gender was her long hair, until she cut it, aged Breaking the vow was once punishable by death, but it is doubtful that this punishment is still carried out. He prefers the company of men. Jun 20, Kavita rated it it was ok Shelves: albaniareal-women. February 12, Jun 12, Cheri rated it it was amazing Shelves: nonfictionwomen. Based on extensive interviews, this book tells the frank and engrossing stories of these women, but also sets their lives within the wider context of a country undergoing radical upheaval and social transformation. The Washington Women Who Become Men Albanian Sworn Virgins 1st edition. I am never scared. He enjoys a certain prestige too, with family and friends. I recommend the book not only fo I saw this on a list and was baffled by the title as I had never heard of the Albanian women who become men. Edith Durham, whose High Albania I read a while ago, goes into this in much more detail. His life suits him. According to Marina WarnerWomen Who Become Men Albanian Sworn Virgins 1st edition sworn virgin's "true sex will never again, on pain of death, be alluded to either in her presence or out of it. The phenomenon of sworn virgins is not exclusive to Albania. Australia New Zealand. There, on a recent day, "uncle" Qamile was surrounded by her clan, dressed in a qeleshe, the traditional white cap of an Albanian man. Dual-role transvestism Transvestic fetishism. But this book will not help to understand much about this. Sometimes family ties were decided before a child was even born. This article appeared in Guardian Weeklywhich incorporates material from Le Monde. For people who take oaths of celibacy for religious reasons, see sworn virgins. I was most surprised at the complete acceptance of these women as men. Die Welt. They have been dubbed 'Sworn Virgins'. Her only concession to femininity were pink flip-flops. Last of the burrnesha: Balkan women who pledged celibacy to live as men I found Durham's work more comprehensive, but Young presents a more academic approach. A narrow bed, unmade, is set against one wall. According to Marina Warnerthe sworn virgin's "true sex will never again, on pain of death, be alluded to either in her presence or out of it. Most people conceive of gender as a culturally informed response to a biological imperative. February 12, Pointing to an old black and white photo hanging in the entrance - showing a handsome young man in his prime - Stema said she took an oath of virginity at age 20, after her father died, and she was left the eldest of nine sisters. Get A Copy. But such rigid notions are overturned by certain women in remote regions of Albania Women Who Become Men Albanian Sworn Virgins 1st edition elect to 'become' men simply for the advantages that accrue to them as a result. Brigitte Hutz rated it liked it Mar 12, I found the phenomenon of a socially acceptable manner of gender change in a masculine dominated society very interesting, that they were able to transcend the restrictive role of women in society and were able to be released from being, in a manner, sold labor between families, to become respected members, even heads of households, with all rights normally conveyed to men. The practice of sworn virginhood was first reported by missionaries, travelers, geographers and anthropologists, who visited the mountains of northern Albania in the 19th and early 20th centuries. This article is about a Balkan gender role. These women must foreswear sexual relationships, marriage and children. Albanian diaspora. There is an image of the Madonna on the table and an apple core. New York: Routledge. This website uses cookies to improve user experience. Whitaker, Ian July Apr 22, Casey rated it really liked it. Anthropological Quarterly. Nor do the women have sex changes. Origins Timeline Archives. Error rating book. Ashley rated it it was ok Feb 08, Welcome back. He enjoys a certain prestige too, with family and friends. Women Who Become Men Albanian Sworn Virgins 1st edition book gives a good description of the history of gender issues for women in Northern Albania, as well as other interesting information about blood feuds, history of the women's movement, dress, and the kanun. London: TimesOnline. Related Articles. Still, a very pleasurable read, provides lots of context, highly recommended to those new to the topic. Friend Reviews. Community Reviews. However, anthropologist Mildred Dickemann suggests this motive may be "over-pat", pointing out that a non-child-bearing woman would have no heirs to inherit Women Who Become Men Albanian Sworn Virgins 1st edition her, and also that in some families not one but several daughters became sworn virgins, and in others the later birth of a brother did not end the sworn virgin's masculine role. Shopping centers Supermarkets. https://cdn-cms.f-static.net/uploads/4564339/normal_5fbe3c0cac889.pdf https://cdn-cms.f-static.net/uploads/4564278/normal_5fbe5873cf815.pdf https://cdn-cms.f-static.net/uploads/4565127/normal_5fbd57ed84dff.pdf https://cdn-cms.f-static.net/uploads/4564768/normal_5fbec3bf20ea0.pdf https://cdn-cms.f-static.net/uploads/4564290/normal_5fbe7741280ea.pdf https://cdn-cms.f-static.net/uploads/4564791/normal_5fbd43b70a5de.pdf.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Honor Crimes of Women in Albanian Society Boundary Discourses On
    HONOR CRIMES OF WOMEN IN ALBANIAN SOCIETY BOUNDARY DISCOURSES ON “VIOLENT” CULTURE AND TRADITIONS By Armela Xhaho Submitted to Central European University Department of Gender Studies In partial fulfillment for the degree of Master of Arts in Gender Studies Supervisor: Professor Andrea Krizsan Second Reader: Professor Eva Fodor CEU eTD Collection Budapest, Hungary 2011 Abstract In this thesis, I explore perceptions of two generations of men on the phenomenon of honor crimes of women in Albanian society, by analyzing in particular discourses on cultural and regional boundaries in terms of factors that perpetuate crimes in the name of honor. I draw on the findings from 24 in depth interviews, respectively 17 interviews with two generations of men who have migrated from remote villages of northern and southern Albania into periphery areas of Tirana and 7 interviews with representatives of key institutional authorities working in the respective communities. The conclusions reached in this study based on the perceptions of two generations of men in Albania suggest that, the ongoing regional discourses on honor crimes of women in Albanian society are still articulated by the majority of informants in terms of “violent” and “backward” cultural traditions, by exonerating the perpetrators and blaming the northern culture for perpetuating such crimes. However, I argue that the narrow construction on cultural understanding of honor crimes of women fails to acknowledge the gendered aspect of violence against women as a universal problem of women’s human rights across different cultures. CEU eTD Collection i Acknowledgements First of all, I would like to acknowledge my supervisor Professor Andrea Krizsan for all her advices and helpful comments during the whole period of thesis writing.
    [Show full text]
  • Albania's 'Sworn Virgins'
    THE LINGUISTIC EXPRESSION OF GENDER IDENTITY: ALBANIA’S ‘SWORN VIRGINS’ CARLY DICKERSON A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE FACULTY OF GRADUATE STUDIES IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARTS GRADUATE PROGRAM IN LINGUISTICS YORK UNIVERSITY TORONTO, ONTARIO August 2015 © Carly Dickerson, 2015 Abstract This paper studies the linguistic tools employed in the construction of masculine identities by burrneshat (‘sworn virgins’) in northern Albania: biological females who have become ‘social men’. Unlike other documented ‘third genders’ (Kulick 1999), burrneshat are not motivated by considerations of personal identity or sexual desire, but rather by the need to fulfill patriarchal roles within a traditional social code that views women as property. Burrneshat are thus seen as honourable and self-sacrificing, are accepted as men in their community, and are treated accordingly, except that they do not marry or engage in sexual relationships. Given these unique circumstances, how do the burrneshat construct and express their identity linguistically, and how do others within the community engage with this identity? Analysis of the choices of grammatical gender in the speech of burrneshat and others in their communities indicates both inter- and intra-speaker variation that is linked to gendered ideologies. ii Table of Contents Abstract ………………………………………………………………………………………….. ii Table of Contents ……………………………………………………………………………….. iii List of Tables …………………………………………………………………………..……… viii List of Figures ……………………………………………………………………………………ix Chapter One – Introduction ……………………………………………………………………... 1 Chapter Two – Albanian People and Language ………………………………………………… 6 2.0 Introduction ………………………………………………………………………………6 2.1 History of Albania ………………………………………………………………………..6 2.1.1 Geographical Location ……………………………………………………………..6 2.1.2 Illyrian Roots ……………………………………………………………………….7 2.1.3 A History of Occupations …………………………………………………………. 8 2.1.4 Northern Albania ………………………………………………………………….
    [Show full text]
  • Albanian Migrant Women
    Albanian migrant women Relation between migration and empowerment of women. The case-study of Albania A Bachelor Thesis Subject: Migration and the empowerment of women Title: Relation between migration and the empowerment of women. The case-study of Albania. Thesis supervisor: Dr. Bettina Bock Student: Liza Iessa Student ID: 870806532080 Date: 30 May 2014 City: Wageningen Institute: University of Wageningen Program: International Development Studies Abstract This is an explorative research of the determinants of migration for women who come from male dominant societies and migrate to more equal societies. The main theory used is the theory of the push and pull factor. The oppression of women in dominantly male societies is defined as a push factor. And opportunities for self-empowerment in more equal societies are defined as a pull factor. In Albania men are the ones who become the head of the household and only men are allowed to own any property. According to the Kanun any women that act in any way as a dishonourable person should be punished or even should pay with her blood. In male dominated societies, such as Albania, there a only few opportunities for women to climb the ladder in the labour market. It makes it very hard for women to provide for themselves and their families financially. Escape high levels of gender inequality is defined as an important reason for Albanian women to migrate. After the fall of the communist regime in the 90’s, the national borders opened up and migration from Albania has increased tremendously. Some women escape male dominant society by migrating to regions with relatively more equality in gender relations.
    [Show full text]
  • Anthropology of Gender in Montenegro. an Introduction
    Comp. Southeast Europ. Stud. 2021; 69(1): 5–18 In the Name of the Daughter. Anthropology of Gender in Montenegro Čarna Brković* In the Name of the Daughter – Anthropology of Gender in Montenegro. An Introduction https://doi.org/10.1515/soeu-2021-2013 Gender in Montenegro In 2012 international organizations warned that Montenegro is one of the world’s leaders in sex-selective abortion, with as a result significantly fewer births of babies recognized as girls.1 Initially, that piece of data seemed to attract little attention, but that changed after a few years. NGOs working on women’srightsorganizedcampaigns advocating against the practice of sex-selective abortion; German journalists came to Montenegro and reported on them; the Montenegrin national newspaper Pobjeda stopped publishing information on the genders of new-born children and began reporting births gender-neutrally instead. In dominant media and NGO discourses, sex- selective abortion was interpreted as the result of the patriarchal backwardness of the country, where sons were more valued and, therefore, more wanted than daughters. The collection of articles in front of you explores how to look beyond the balkanist discourse to understand abortion and other gendered practices in Montenegro.2 It articulates anthropological criticism of patriarchy, misogyny, and gender inequality in Montenegro without reiterating the common tropes about 1 United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) data reveal that Montenegro is one of the top eleven countries in the world for sex imbalance at birth; that is in the difference between the numbers of boys and girls. Cf. Christophe Z. Guilmoto, Sex Imbalances at Birth. Current Trends, Consequences and Policy Implications, UNFPA Asia and Pacific Regional Office, Bangkok 2012, 20.
    [Show full text]
  • LRA2016 Hantman Essay.Pdf (117.3Kb)
    Rachel Hantman June 10, 2015 Geography 431 Amy Piedalue For my creative piece, I created a “flipbook” demonstrating the transition Albanian women undergo when they become Albanian Sworn Virgins. Sworn Virgins are women who are primarily from Northern Albania and who, at a young age, take an oath of celibacy, and in doing so, societally transformed themselves into men. By taking this oath in front of twelve men, their celibacy allows them to avoid an arranged marriage (or the possibility of one), which transfers societal meaning onto them and they become men (Littlewood 45). As recognized males in their community, they are able to participate in the codified law as powerful beings with agency as opposed to powerless women lacking choices. This law that strongly influences their society is known as the Code of Lekë Dukagjini, or the Kanun, and it generates a highly patriarchal environment, “Patriarchy is assumed… marriage is ‘for the purpose of adding to the work force and increasing the number of children’… women are not involved in blood feuds… because a woman’s blood is not equal to a man’s… ‘A woman is a sack, made to endure’” (Post 53-54). With the Kanun’s lack of religious backing and affiliation, the choice to become a Sworn Virgin is then deeply rooted in Northern Albanian societal standards (Štulhofer and Sandfort 80). If a family lacks sons, if a familial male leader dies, or if a young girls wants a life of mobility, she may chose to take the oath as an act of self-empowerment and as a means to better her and/or her family’s position in society (Bilefsky).
    [Show full text]
  • Albanian Sworn Virgins
    Anthropology of East Europe Review BOOK REVIEW: WOMEN WHO BECOME MEN: ALBANIAN SWORN VIRGINS Karl Kaser Karl-Franzens University ofGravAustria Antonia Young, Women Who Become Men: Albanian choice came after puberty, and thirdly those who had Sworn Virgins. Oxford-New York: Berg, 2000.168 pp. religious reasons. The third type does not exist any longer. In the summer of 1993, the author -- an anthropologist at Colgate University and the In chapter five ("living as men"), the author differentiates between rural and urban sworn virgins and Research Unit in South East European Studies at presents biographies of 9 rural and 7 urban virgins from the University of Bradford - met the first Albanian the cities of Shkodra and Bairam Curri in Northern sworn virgin in Northern Albania near the regional Albania. To take over the role of household head is the capital of Shkodra. She estimates there are about predominant reason for changing gender in rural 100 living ones, most of them in the mountainous Albania, whereas for urban virgins this is less obvious. areas ofthe country's north. She met several of In general, the common reason for all of these women them and conducted interviews. Along with the becoming men was the need to fill a male role when no pertinent sections of Albanian customary law and biological man was available. In the last chapter, the the small available literature on sworn virgins, author asks about the future of this institution in a rapidly changing world. She predicts the breakdown of these interviews provide the empirical basis for the this social custom: improved education, massive first book ever written on this fascinating topic.
    [Show full text]
  • Feud Narratives: Contemporary Deployments of Kanun in Shala Valley, Northern Albania
    Mentor Mustafa and Antonia Young: Feud narratives: contemporary deployments of kanun in Shala Valley, northern Albania Feud narratives: contemporary deployments of kanun in Shala Valley, northern Albania Mentor Mustafa Boston University, [email protected] and Antonia Young University of Bradford, [email protected]. ABSTRACT The Albanian blood feud (gjakmarrja) is here documented through survey data and oral narratives of feud incidents in order to assess how these conflicts are initiated, the chro- nological sequence of events that involve the victim, the perpetrator and corresponding kin-groups along with parties involved in the mediation of the feud and the intervention strategies that are practised, and how these are informed by multiple understandings of customary law. Within an honour-driven context, gjakmarrja is a way of redressing the loss of an individual’s or family’s honour (nder). In a context where individual actors and kin-groups accumulate a feud performance history, blood feud regulates the flow of public insults upon individuals’ and kin-groups’ moral and social worth in both private and public domains. Our data further suggest that diverse understandings of the traditional law locally known as kanun inform feud relations. Enactment and re-enactment proce- dures do not always culminate in settlement of feuds. Instead, various interpretations of customary law often serve as a justification of and sometimes a catalyst for more feuds. Operating alongside, and often in opposition to, state and transnational legal frameworks such as human rights legislation, customary law and its diverse local manifestations may facilitate rather than deter the intergenerational persistence of blood feud conflicts.
    [Show full text]
  • Transcending Gender Boundaries Tarifa
    Societies Without Borders Volume 2 | Issue 1 Article 6 2007 Balkan Societies of "Social Men": Transcending Gender Boundaries Tarifa Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarlycommons.law.case.edu/swb Part of the Human Rights Law Commons, and the Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons Recommended Citation Tarifa. 2007. "Balkan Societies of "Social Men": Transcending Gender Boundaries." Societies Without Borders 2 (1): 75-92. Available at: https://scholarlycommons.law.case.edu/swb/vol2/iss1/6 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Cross Disciplinary Publications at Case Western Reserve University School of Law Scholarly Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Societies Without Borders by an authorized administrator of Case Western Reserve University School of Law Scholarly Commons. Tarifa: Balkan Societies of "Social Men": Transcending Gender Boundaries S W B Societies Without Borders 2 (2007) 75–92 www.brill.nl/swb Balkan Societies of “Social Men”: Transcending Gender Boundaries Fatos Tarifa Eastern Michigan University, Michigan, USA Received 29 June 2006; accepted 10 July 2006 Abstract As transgender identities worldwide have begun to receive attention from students of gender and sexuality, a curious Balkan (but more specifi cally Albanian) tradition of female-to-male transgender (“sworn virgins”) surviving to the present day – an obscure and ambiguous theme until recently – is worthy of sociological attention. The “sworn virgin” phenomenon is stud- ied in a larger, ethno-cultural context, zipping through such complicated – and sociologically contentious – notions as patriarchy, blood-feud, destructive entitlement, etc. It is argued that the “sworn virgins” of the Balkans were forced to become “social men,” assuming masculine social and family roles, due to specifi c economic and social conditions that have historically prevailed in northern Albania, but also in Kosovo and Montenegro.
    [Show full text]
  • Albanian Women's Activism in the Three Neighboring
    GUESTS OR SISTERS: ALBANIAN WOMEN’S ACTIVISM IN THE THREE NEIGHBORING COUNTRIES (MACEDONIA, KOSOVA AND ALBANIA) By Mimoza Pachuku Submitted to Central European University Department of Gender Studies In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Critical Gender Studies Supervisor: Professor Dr. habil. Andrea PetĘ Budapest, Hungary 2011 CEU eTD Collection Abstract This study uses Floya Anthias’ and Nira Yuval Davis’ theory on women and nation to analyze Albanian women’s activism in three countries (Macedonia, Kosova and Albania) during the period of 1990-2010. Analyzing narratives from twenty interviews conducted with Albanian women from Kosova and Macedonia, I track their activism and the identity negotiation processes (of gender and nation) during the conflicts and their cross-border collaborations. The first chapter examines collaborations, tensions and divisions between the women, when trying to establish a transnational Albanian Women’s Alliance. While the second examines the intersection of the identity negotiation processes of women who challenged the roles of “passive actors in conflict times” and used the “national cause” to challenge the male dominated areas (such as political structures and nation-building processes). The last chapter gives an overview from a transnational perspective on how the transformation of “hard” to “soft” borders between the bordering countries, impacts women and the future aspirations for “Great Albania”. CEU eTD Collection i Acknowledgements I thank my advisor Andrea PetĘ for the guidance throughout the entire process of this research project and the insightful comments while writing the thesis. I also want to express my great gratitude to Elena Anchevska for helping me carry out such a broad research in a limited period of time.
    [Show full text]
  • Migration and Development in Albania
    Working Paper C5 Migration and Development in Albania RUSSELL KING and JULIE VULLNETARI Sussex Centre for Migration Research December 2003 Issued by the Development Research Centre on Migration, Globalisation and Poverty The UK Department for International Development (DFID) supports policies, programmes and projects to promote poverty reduction globally. DFID provided funds for this study as part of that goal but the views and opinions expressed are those of the author(s) alone. Development Research Centre on Migration, Globalisation and Poverty Arts C-226, University of Sussex Brighton BN1 9SJ Website: http://www.migrationdrc.org Email: [email protected] Tel: +44 (0)1273 873394 Fax: +44 (0)1273 873158 This paper may be reproduced free of charge in any format provided the source is acknowledged. 2 Migration and Development in Albania C O N T E N T S 1. Introduction 4 2. Background to Migration 6 2.1 The Political Background to the Albanian Exodus 7 2.2 Albanian Demography and its Relevance for Migration 9 2.3 Mapping Poverty in Albania 12 2.4 Migration in the Albanian Cultural Context 17 3. Trends and Patterns of International Migration 20 3.1 Historical Perspective 20 3.2 Figures 24 3.3 Characterisation of Albanian Migration 27 3.4 Reception and Integration in the Host Societies 32 4. Trends and Patterns of Internal Migration 39 4.1 Historical Perspective 40 4.2 Figures 41 4.3 Typologies of Internal Movement 42 5. Socio-Economic Impact of Migration 46 5.1 Remittances 47 5.2 Return Migration 49 5.3 Demographic Effects 50 5.4 Migration, Poverty Alleviation and Development in Albania – The Future 53 6.
    [Show full text]
  • Country Advice
    Refugee Review Tribunal AUSTRALIA RRT RESEARCH RESPONSE Research Response Number: ALB32714 Country: Albania Date: 5 December 2007 Keywords: Albania – Mixed Muslim/Christian marriage – Aldo Bare Group This response was prepared by the Research & Information Services Section of the Refugee Review Tribunal (RRT) after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the RRT within time constraints. This response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. This research response may not, under any circumstance, be cited in a decision or any other document. Anyone wishing to use this information may only cite the primary source material contained herein. Questions 1. What is the attitude to persons of mixed Muslim/Christian marriage in Albania? 2. What is the information on the Aldo Bare Group? 3. Please provide any available information on an Alfred Shkurti? 4. Please provide any information on a Petrit Lici? RESPONSE 1. What is the attitude to persons of mixed Muslim/Christian marriage in Albania? Little information was found on this topic in this time frame, but DFAT gave the following opinion in 2004: A.1. It is not plausible that as a result of marriage to a Catholic, an Albanian woman would be liable to generalised persecution. Albania is tolerant to different religions and there is very little religious fundamentalism – except possibly for some specific areas in northern Albania. Death threats within families usually stem from blood feuds (or family vendettas), as opposed to religious or broader persecution. Blood feuds are an old historical practice in Albania, primarily rooted in the tribal society of the northern Albanian highlands.
    [Show full text]
  • Gender Difference in the Balkans
    GENDER DIFFERENCE IN THE BALKANS SUZANA MILEVSKA A thesis submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Goldsmiths' College - University of London Visual Cultures Department October 2005 Abstract This dissertation deals with the issue of gender difference in the Balkans. In order to evade the many assumptions and presumptions that posit gender difference in the Balkan region as being necessarily subsumed to established orders and regimes of representation, this dissertation focuses on an array of visual materials. This singular material consists of nineteenth and twentieth century photographs, and a series of contemporary art works (objects, installations, videos, etc.) This material draws attention to overlooked images of women (some of them taken by women) that resist the logic and rhetoric of the patriarchal order and emphasises the ambiguous rhetoric of gender difference within the field of representation in visual culture. The aim of this dissertation and of this collated visual material is to challenge and deconstruct the problematic understanding of institutional archives as places dedicated to guarding and preserving the truth of written documents and visual imagery. Instead of focusing on the archive as the repository of truth (e. g. about national identity), I attempt to "perform" an archive of the act of becoming a different gender as a result of a way of acquiring knowledge and making art that is specific to the Balkans. The main argument is that gender difference is the product of a discourse that is not necessarily constituted out of a negative differentiation of the subject. This act of becoming one's gender through difference can stem from other patterns and relationships towards the state and the dominant regimes of representation that infiltrate art and visual culture.
    [Show full text]