New Museum Portrays Albanian Women Throughout History

Ballauri won the "Women's Torch" prize from the Danish government in 2009, which is when she decided to embark on this initiative.

The museum called "Muzeu i Grave (Women's Museum) was opened in 2021 and is free for the public throughout the week from 10am to 5pm, except on Sundays.

"I am interested in finding out what relationship women had with their families, husbands, with life and with themselves," Ballauri told BIRN. "Even a single object shows a part of history," she added.

Women's jewelry from antiquity displayed in the "Women's Museum". Photo: BIRN

The collection starts with antiquity and the jewelry of women in the area of ​​Zadrima, in Shkoder, in northern Albania.

Women's jewelry and objects from antiquity displayed in the 'Women's Museum'. Photo: BIRN

"The Catholic part of the north hosted a population that was isolated due to not converting to Islam, and this made them preserve traditions a lot. Zadrimore women were also more liberal than in the rest of the north," she remarks.

It continues with the period before World War II, before communism, where the first school for women was opened.

Women's jewelry and objects from before World War II displayed in the "Women's Museum" Photo: BIRN

"At that time, women's organisations were very active and interesting, in the years 1920 to 1930. King Zog's sisters supported women's organisations. The topics they discussed were very interesting, how women should work, they talked about divorce, they talked about abortion, they talked about cleanliness," Ballauri told BIRN.

"Albania was a very interesting place then and society was very active," she added.

In the first row of the shelf are objects that were allowed during communism,...