EASTERN EUROPEANS DID YOU KNOW?

Though there are major cultural and traditional differences between the • Most Eastern European immigrants are racially peoples of the different countries of Eastern Europe and the former Soviet categorized as White or Union, one commonality they all share is having lived under communist Caucasian. This is a benefit rule. The dissolution of the Soviet Union led to the creation, or re-creation, because they are less likely to be discriminated against than of a number of Eastern European or Balkan states, including Bosnia, Croatia, other immigrants of color. and Macedonia. Borders and populations changed, in some cases leading to • Most Eastern Europeans renewed conflicts between various ethnic and religious groups. The conflict grew up in industrially advanced was most severe between Serbia and Bosnia, both formerly part of Yugoslavia. societies, so they are more Conflict began in Bosnia in 1991, and in 1992 the Federation of Bosnia- quick to adapt to Western technology than are immigrants Herzegovina declared independence from Yugoslavia. The conflict included from developing countries. “ethnic cleansing” of Muslims in Bosnia by Serb military and police. This • Bosnia’s three major genocide was characterized by concentration camps, mass murders ethnic/religious groups are (especially of men), and a Serb policy of raping Muslim women. The vast Muslims, Serbs, and Croats. majority of casualties (approximately 250,000 killed) were civilian. An Refugees from all three groups have been resettled in Guilford outflow of refugees resulted in approximately 800,000 Bosnians displaced County. In addition, many to other countries, and more than 200,000 coming to the United States. refugees are from “mixed Refugees from all three of the primary ethnic/religious population groups families” which were not accepted by any of the power (Muslims, Serbs, and Croats) have been resettled in Guilford County. No groups involved in the political single group comprises a majority population. struggles.

Information included here is provided to help you become more aware of the culture and traditions of your clients, students and co-workers. Please use this only as a guide, keeping in mind that all people within a culture are not the same. Be sure to ask your clients and their families about their specific beliefs, practices and customs. Showing respect and openness toward their traditions will help you build better relationships and provide more effective services. The resettlement of refugees lose their retirement savings due Eastern Orthodox (primarily from Eastern Europe and the to unexpected economic hardship. Serbs); 38% are Muslim; and former Soviet Union dates back Men and women at age 55 must 22% are Catholic (most Croatian). to the 1980s. However, most continue to work well beyond Albanians are largely Muslim refugees from Eastern Europe the age at which they expected although there are also some who settled in Guilford County to retire. Albanians who are orthodox, came in the 1990s. Though the Roman Catholics, and evangelical Triad did not emerge as a major Christians. resettlement area for Eastern Most Russians who are mem- Europeans, the Bosnian refugee CULTURE bers of a faith community are community that was resettled in orthodox Christians and belong Greensboro has grown to a LANGUAGE The language of to the Russian Orthodox Church. couple of thousand people. In Bosnia has traditionally been However, most refugees resettled addition, Jewish Family Services categorized as Serbo-Croatian. in North Carolina are not has assisted in resettling roughly However, with nationalist feelings orthodox. Most Russians in 250 Jewish refugees from Russia being strong, many are claiming Greensboro are Jewish, resettled and the Ukraine in Greensboro. that their language is unique and through Jewish Family Services. There are also approximately 100 different, and insist that they Russian Jewish refugees were Albanian Kosovars recently speak Serb, Croat, Bosnian, or forbidden to practice their resettled in Greater Greensboro. Yugoslavian. Many people also religion in their native country Many Bosnians, especially speak German, English, or and many have only recently members of the older generation, another second language. In most come to learn and understand hope to return to their country respects, Serbo-Croatian is similar more about their own religion. someday. Those Bosnians who enough to English that Bosnians Asheville has become a desirable owned property, but were forced are able to learn English without site for Russian and Ukrainian to flee for their lives because of exceptional difficulty. Russians evangelical Christians, with a the war, still retain legal owner- speak Russian and many also population of several thousand ship of the property that they left learn some English in school. and a network of ethnic churches. behind. While the Islam practiced in For most Eastern Europeans RELIGIOUS PRACTICES & Eastern Europe is usually not as the age for retirement is 55. Many BELIEFS Much of Europe has strict as Islam in other parts of older Eastern Europeans worked become very secularized, and the world, the Islamic religion has hard their whole lives and were formal religion is not as strong an impact on health beliefs and planning for retirement when as in the United States. However, practices. The laws of Islam political situations in their native religion is often a big factor for dictates meticulous hygiene countries forced them to leave. Eastern European refugees. practices. Muslim women are People express frustration and The Bosnian population is often modest and hence less sadness that once they immigrate more religiously diverse than likely to report gynecological to the United States they may other Balkan countries: 40% are problems. Muslims should be seen by doctors of the same sex classes will also be those least in the same household. Married whenever possible. Bosnian likely to have formal educations. couples have between two and women who are Muslim are four children. Russians, in their reported to be less intent on EDUCATION Education is a native country, have been very maintaining extreme modesty and source of pride and of special dependent on a close knit family are more willing to report gyne- importance to both Russians and for survival. In Russia it was cological problems. Bosnians. In their home countries common for two or three genera- education was free and many tions of family members to live SOCIAL CLASS Some believe people received advanced degrees together. Married children with that Eastern Europeans have less and technical training. In fact, spouses often remained living class discrimination than Western Russians are thought to have one with one of the couple’s parents. Europeans. This may be a concept of the highest educational levels that was internalized during the in the world. It is a great source GENDER ROLES Due to financial period of Soviet rule. Everyone of frustration to many Russian stresses, men and women are has an equal opportunity to refugees and immigrants that their often both working jobs. Women access a good education and certifications and educational take responsibility for managing employment. A person’s class degrees do not transfer to fulfill the home. Men provide financial status appears to be of less requirements for colleges and support for the family and act as importance than their level of universities or employment in the the head of the household. education. United States. Both Bosnian and Traditional dating and Russian immigrants appear to Russian immigrants and refugees marriage practices vary according subscribe to the Western concept often work hard and use large to country of origin, though it is of social class, with society portions of their financial reported that most Bosnian and members considered to be upper, resources to achieve diplomas for Russian youth begin dating in middle, and lower class based on degrees that they already hold in high school and make their own income levels. There are also their native countries. Many choices about marital partners. designations for the nouveau riche people work in jobs for which In Russia, people typically married (people with more recently they are over qualified and they between the ages of 18 and 23. acquired wealth than good taste experience job dissatisfaction in It is undesirable for a woman to or manners), and for a bohemian the United States. be over 25 and still single. class of people who, though not Marriage gives a Russian woman financially well off, are well social status and a woman’s career respected for their creativity and F AMILY & is considered less important. artistic talents. In Russia, people RELATIONSHIPS Bosnians more often live in with middle and upper class nuclear families. Relationships status lived in larger cities while In the United States, Russians between men and women are the majority of the poor lived in typically live in nuclear families, more egalitarian. Women have more rural areas. However, those although it is not uncommon for careers but still act as the primary individuals from less privileged extended family members to live caretaker of household affairs. HEALTH & through informal means, and WELLNESS mental health services are rarely accessed. HEALTH BELIEFS Except for the notable fact that the health care ALCOHOL USE Russians have a system in Russia and Bosnia is reputation for being heavy socialized, basic health care in drinkers. It is unusual for a social the United States is not unfamiliar function to take place without the to Eastern Europeans. In their presence of alcohol. Alcoholism is native countries more emphasis a social problem aggravated by may have been placed on primary social tradition and the culture care, although some tests and shock and post-traumatic stress procedures were not available. that is common with refugees. Nearly all Bosnians and Russians are familiar with western OBSTACLES TO ACCESSING concepts of health and disease. CARE The language barrier is Some Eastern Europeans express the largest obstacle for older a disappointment with the poor Eastern Europeans. Financial quality and inaccessibility of limitations and transportation medical care in the United States. may also pose problems. Though there is some distrust of Generally, Eastern Europeans medical professionals reported express some of the same by Eastern Europeans, patients complaints that most Americans typically comply with doctors’ do in regard to accessing health recommendations and treatment care services, including long regimens. waits, the short time actually spent with the physician, and the MENTAL HEALTH Mental health high cost of treatment. issues to consider when working with refugees from Eastern Europe include post-traumatic stress disorder and depression. These issues are generally treated

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Sanja Grgic, Zlatko Topalovic and other members of the Guilford County Eastern European community.