This project explores the Burrnesha (“Sworn Virgins”), a community shaped by the Kanuni i Lekë Dukagjinit in the southern Balkans. Burrnesha are women who swear celibacy and assume male roles through the oath of Besa, fulfilling family duties in a patriarchal society.
The project examines how tradition, duty, and survival shape third-gender identities and challenge conventional gender norms. It is expressed through a book of personal stories and photographs, and a short film featuring an interview with Drande Dodaj, a Burrneshë from Shëngjin, reflecting on her identity and role in the community.
