Jun 2, 2006

Discrimination in East Europe

Unfortunately, because parts of Eastern Europe have been closed for so long (glasnost, after all, was a new idea of "openness" as recently as the 1980's), discrimination against others is still accepted behavior. Religious groups like Jews, ethnic groups like the Rusyns and the Roma, those of minority sexual orientation, peasants, those with medical conditions, and foreigners in general have, at one point or another, been perceived as suspicious, unwanted, and inferior in Eastern Europe.

While this is slowly changing, there are still surges of intolerance periodically. You may be aware that much of Russia is extremely anti-gay, as was illustrated in the recent cancellation of a gay pride parade in Moscow. Gay men and lesbians have been targeted by homophobic individuals in the city as recently as last month. Again in Russia, misinformation, misunderstanding, and fear of AIDS have meant segregation of children born to HIV-positive women. The mothers themselves are often ill-treated by doctors and by society and have been denied treatment for this disease--which is spreading at uncontrollable rates throughout Russia.

More generally, some Eastern European nations hold deep prejudices against their Russian neighbors, who they blame for years of Communist rule. Beggars are also seen as undesirable; the common belief is that "honest poor people are too proud to beg." It has also been evident that children with learning disorders, physical or mental disabilities, or deformities have been discriminated against, sometimes left in orphanages by their own parents.

Discrimination in Eastern Europe, as in other parts of the world, can seem pervasive. However, Eastern Europe is not immune to change. After 70 years of Communism, it may in fact seem that way, but slowly, the value of diversity may be realized on a broad basis.