The loneliness of one of Albania's last sworn virgins

Gjystina Grisha, a "Burrnesha" (sworn virgin), walks in front of her home in the mountain village of Lepushe, 200 km from Tirana, on May 25, 2023. Grisha is among the last of Albania's "sworn virgins", an ancient, gender-bending tradition that saw her renounce sex, married life and parenthood in exchange for the right to live and work as a man in the deeply patriarchal society. For decades, Gjystina chopped wood, drove tractors and tended livestock as the man of the house in a remote valley in northern Albanian, only to find herself alone after years of sacrifice supporting her family. (Photo by ORSOLA MEMA / AFP)

LEPUSHE, Albania (AFP): For decades, Gjystina Grishaj chopped wood, drove tractors and tended livestock as the man of the house in a remote valley in northern Albania, only to find herself alone after years of sacrifice supporting her family.

Grishaj is among the last of Albania's so-called "sworn virgins" -- an ancient, gender-bending tradition that saw her renounce sex, married life and parenthood in exchange for the right to live and work as a man in the deeply patriarchal society.