So Albania traditionally had a very patriarchal society. It’s a combo of reasons but if there was a lack of men in a household (example, all female children or something happens to the father or the sons or there’s a blood feud), then a female child could volunteer to live life as a man for the rest of her life. Other scenario was that a female baby could’ve been brought up from birth to serve this role, but in more recent times, it was more of someone volunteering.

Basically, society is so patriarchal and tribal in structure that it was easier to take on a new gender role (woman to man) and live life that way until the end of one’s life than for a woman to be the head of the household while holding her gender identity.