Socio-Cultural Influences And Legal Evolution In Albania: Unraveling The Status Of Women From Kanun To Communism And Democracy And Persistent Gender Gaps

Abstract

This article traces the evolution of women’s roles and rights in Albania through three fundamental historical phases: the period governed by the Kanun, the communist regime, and the post-1991 democratic transition. Drawing on legal sources, socio-political transformations, and contributions from psychological and social sciences, the analysis highlights the normative and cultural shifts that have shaped Albanian women’s path toward equality. The paper emphasizes how each phase has produced different forms of subordination and opportunities, and how law, without profound cultural change, is insufficient to ensure genuine empowerment.