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Sworn Virgins In Albania Essay

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From the National Geographic's documentary, I learnt that there are more than just female and male. There are several regions, in particular, in this world that have more than just female and male, which are India, Indonesia, and Albania. These countries have its own culture and customs, hence the formation of a third gender. Allow me to use the word "gender" instead. In India, they have what they called as the Hijras, which are men that dress as women would, to put it bluntly, male transvestites while in Indonesia, there is a region where a community recognised not two, but five genders. The sworn virgins in Albania also been highlighted in this documentary.
India is robust with different community, diversity, and culture. One particular community …show more content…

The sworn virgins are women that have taken an irreversible oath to celibate. After taking the oath, they may live like a man, dress like one and socialising like one. The reasons may vary on why these women take the oath. Some may take it just to avoid an unwanted marriage. If they do not want to get married in an arranged marriage, they may take the oath, and while taking the oath also save the family from disgrace. Since this society is a patriarchal society, the women often left out when it comes to inheritance. So, families that have no sons may lose that inheritance to someone that is not their family once their daughters married, hence why some take the oath. It is because to protect their wealth from another person of another family. It is rather sad for these sworn virgins because although they have obtained the freedom of a man, they cannot produce heir to inherit their wealth because taking the oath meaning they will have to live their whole lives being a man and cannot get married and if they wanted to get married, they are basically violating the oath and the society may be shunned them. In my opinion, the sworn virgins are brave human, braver than I will ever be because they need to endure life while becoming someone that is not biologically them as a

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