The Virgins

In modern-day Albania, a medieval tradition has survived to this day, in which a woman can take a man’s place as the head of a family.

Surprisingly, a few women still observe the custom, and they’re known as sworn virgins.
Under the strict rules of a centuries-old code, they sacrifice their own identities to stand in for brothers who have died. Most had to make the choice at a very early age.

They did it to help their families, but it comes at a price, they can never have children of their own.

Watch "The Virgins" on RTD website and on RT’s live feed. The time of the broadcast is available on RT’s schedule page.