Question by : Is Russia unsafe for non white female travelors? Are the people racist to non whites there?
What should a female non white tourist expect, in terms of treatment, when travelling in Russia? IS it dangerous for non white females there?
If it is dangerous, what should I be careful for, especially as a non whtie and as a female?
Answers and Views:
Answer by Meg Guimond
Unfortunately, from what I know and what I’ve heard, in Russia you are definitely more at risk for street crimes if you are non-white, and female. Also, specifically if you’re traveling alone. Perhaps it’s best to keep some bear spray ready just in case.
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Arsan Lupin says
You haven't mentioned what country you are a resident of, nor what ethnic group you are a part of. You also didn't say whether you were really planning to visit Russia, let alone where in Russia or why. From your grammar and spelling I must assume you are American. From your other questions you have asked in the past it appears that you yourself are a racist.
I've visited the former soviet union many times, to cities large and small. I can tell you from first-hand experience that all of the negative posts to this question are attributable to varying degrees of ignorance. The number of news articles about skinheads attacking foreigners exceeds the number of skinheads. Why is it news? Because it happens so rarely! If it were happening every day they wouldn't bother reporting it, because who wants to read what they already know? I'm amazed that people think because something is on the news, it's a common occurrence. The opposite is in fact true, for reasons involving the marketing of the news media and it's journalists.
As a tourist you should expect friendliness and helpfulness. As a female you should expect courtesy and gallantry – and possibly a little macho behavior that might be considered a bit much for the sexually-repressed females of North America. As a non-white you should expect a little curiosity, depending on what ethnic group you actually are a part of. (They have quite a few Asians as a part of their multiculturalism, but an African-American or a Native American would be a bit of a curiosity. A Latino might be mistaken for a Tatar or central Asian – until you open your mouth. Dress like an American and there will never be any doubt, no matter what ethnicity you might appear to be.) As a racist you should expect anger and resentment.
Lose the hangups on ethnicity and think of everyone as PEOPLE, and you'll be fine.
Mohamed Sharm says
Oh dear….. I understand why we wont let them into the EU now!
Wave2012 says
Yes, we are very dangerous people. We don't speak English at all (we use "Google translate" for translating your question, then write in Russian and then translate with Google again), we eat babies for a breakfast and pray for government 3 times a day (no, 4). We don't have signs on the streets in English because surprisingly official language here is Russian. We didn't have slavery in Russia and colonies in Africa because we are so racist that even don't want to visit those places.
Real Russian explained you "real" situation with racism in one of previous answers being thousands km from Russia. You have choice – to believe people who live in Russia or those who left it million years ago.
AndreiK says
Shortly speaking, your idea of traveling alone through Russia, is a crazy idea.
Muscovites here says you'll be fine there. It's lie. Nobody with dark skin can be totally safe on the streets of Moscow, because of color of skin; and those putin's puppies knows it themselves. But, they're here, in YA, to spread propaganda, not to give you true answers about Russia.
You'll have a lot of troubles in Russia, if you really gonna go there alone. Here's just some of 'em:
If you don't speak Russian, you'll find very soon that there is no English on streets beyond of Moscow. Almost nobody can speak English, no road signs in English, no tourist's services over there.
As you're dark skinner, you'll be attract unnormal attentions in rular Russia. Every freaking cop will stop you and ask what are you doing here?
As a lonely woman on a road, you'll be a potential prey for all sorts of crooks and sexual maniacs.
I would be continue, but I hope that's enough.
Save you God!
Svetlana says
You sound like yet another ignorant simply looking for giggles.
You're worried about discrimination in Russia? Be more worried about those instances in the USA. The USA was founded on slavery for goodness sake.
I speak for every Russian when I say we are so bored of foreigners spewing slanderous fallacies about our country and people. It's rather disheartening how most Americans never have any positive views whatsoever about Russia but instead sweeping generalizations spurred from stereotypes and media hype.
Ysomuchenvytool says
Be very careful it is very unsafe for you there especially in Mosscow
polynesian says
Not less safe than US for a non-black male traveler I guess. If you are on an organized tour you are perfectly safe here in Russia.
If you travel individually, be reasonable and do not seek for adventures – and they will not find you, as elsewhere in the World.