Stana Cerović
Stana Cerović | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1936 Near Šavnik, Montenegro |
| Died | 1 August 2016 Montenegro |
| Nationality | Montenegrin |
| Known for | Last Montenegrin sworn virgin |
Stana Cerović (1936–2016) was a Montenegrin sworn virgin in rural Montenegro, a practice permitting Albanian and Serbian (Montenegrin) females to take on the gender role of men. By the time of her death, she was known as the last such virgin in her country.
Biography
Stana Cerović was born in 1936 in a village near Šavnik, Montenegro, as the daughter of Anda and Milivoje Cerovic.[1] She had three sisters and two brothers, both of whom died in childhood. In response, she promised her father that she would continue to look after the family and live as a man. She began dressing male, and only socialised with men. Cerović began to smoke when she was five, and worked in the fields on her father's farm at seven. At a young age her mother was resistant of the masculine qualities that Cerovic’s father was reinforcing, and before Cerovic’s oath was taken, her mother continuously tried to change her dressing, and the chores she participated in.[1][2] Cerović learned traditionally male skills,[3] including being taught to shoot by her father.[2] She showed a passion for hunting and shooting throughout her life, and typically joined the men on their wolf hunts, despite not having a hunting license. When a shooting club was founded in a nearby village, she applied for membership, but was turned down. She later showed up at a tournament organized by the club, and after seeing all the men miss the mark, she took it upon herself to leave the audience and grab a rifle. Her first shot hit the mark, proving that she was an excellent marksman.[4]
This was all part of becoming a sworn virgin, a traditional Balkan cultural institution whereby females would take on the role of men and remain unmarried and without children throughout their life. Over time, this practice became accepted, because it does not conflict with any of the three major religions practiced in the Balkan region; Islam, Roman Catholicism, and Eastern Orthodoxy.[5] She continued to live in her village for her entire life, raising cattle. At 35 Cerović became head of the household[2] and remained in her parents′ home following their deaths, where she looked after her sisters.[5] Following the death of her closest sister Vukosava, she became very distraught. Vukosava was the sister that typically helped her with most of her tasks in the fields, and they worked together often.
After being injured by one of her cattle in 2015, she sold them off. After being featured on Montenegrin television, offers of assistance to Cerović were made from around the country, such as travelogues offering her more exposure to the public eye, and news articles asking for monetary aid on her behalf.[1] The local authorities arranged for her to be moved to a care home in 2016 at a house in Risan for the elderly poor.[1][6][2] It was reported by Montenegrin state television in early August 2016 that she had died.[7] By the time of her death, she was considered to be the last sworn virgin in Montenegro.[2][8]
References
- ^ a b c d Marjanović, Vera. "The last man of Montenegro". KOSMO. NACH OBEN. Retrieved 3 December 2018.
- ^ a b c d e Knezevic, Gordana (13 June 2016). "The last 'sworn virgin' of Montenegro". The Guardian. Retrieved 10 November 2017.
- ^ "Posljednja crnogorska virdžina". Al Jazeera (in Croatian). 9 February 2013. Retrieved 10 November 2017.
- ^ Laurence Hérault. Les ”vierges jurées” : une masculinité singulière et ses observateurs. Sextant, 2009, pp. 273–284. <halshs-00438673>
- ^ a b Bremmer, Jan N. (2014). From Sappho to De Sade: Moments in the History of Sexuality. Routledge. p. 153. ISBN 978-1-306929-608.
- ^ Slavujević, Svetlana. "Help needed for the last CG Virginia". RTCG - Radio Televizija Crne Gore - Nacionalni javni servis. TVCG. Retrieved 3 December 2018.
- ^ "Balkan country's last 'sworn virgin' dies in his 80s". New York Post. 2016-08-02. Retrieved 2019-02-24.
- ^ "Montenegro's last 'virgina' dies". Seattle Times. 2 August 2016. Retrieved 10 November 2017.