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Page 1
Though there are major cultural and traditional differences between the
peoples of the different countries of Eastern Europe and the former Soviet
Union, one commonality they all share is having lived under communist
rule. The dissolution of the Soviet Union led to the creation, or re-creation,
of a number of Eastern European or Balkan states, including Bosnia, Croatia,
and Macedonia. Borders and populations changed, in some cases leading to
renewed conflicts between various ethnic and religious groups. The conflict
was most severe between Serbia and Bosnia, both formerly part of Yugoslavia.
Conflict began in Bosnia in 1991, and in 1992 the Federation of Bosnia-
Herzegovina declared independence from Yugoslavia. The conflict included
“ethnic cleansing” of Muslims in Bosnia by Serb military and police. This
genocide was characterized by concentration camps, mass murders
(especially of men), and a Serb policy of raping Muslim women. The vast
majority of casualties (approximately 250,000 killed) were civilian. An
outflow of refugees resulted in approximately 800,000 Bosnians displaced
to other countries, and more than 200,000 coming to the United States.
Refugees from all three of the primary ethnic/religious population groups
(Muslims, Serbs, and Croats) have been resettled in Guilford County. No
single group comprises a majority population.
• Most Eastern European
immigrants are racially
categorized as White or
Caucasian. This is a benefit
because they are less likely to
be discriminated against than
other immigrants of color.
• Most Eastern Europeans
grew up in industrially advanced
societies, so they are more
quick to adapt to Western
technology than are immigrants
from developing countries.
• Bosnia’s three major
ethnic/religious groups are
Muslims, Serbs, and Croats.
Refugees from all three groups
have been resettled in Guilford
County. In addition, many
refugees are from “mixed
families” which were not
accepted by any of the power
groups involved in the political
struggles.
EASTERN
EUROPEANS
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.
DID YOU KNOW?
Page 2
The resettlement of refugees
from Eastern Europe and the
former Soviet Union dates back
to the 1980s. However, most
refugees from Eastern Europe
who settled in Guilford County
came in the 1990s. Though the
Triad did not emerge as a major
resettlement area for Eastern
Europeans, the Bosnian refugee
community that was resettled in
Greensboro has grown to a
couple of thousand people. In
addition, Jewish Family Services
has assisted in resettling roughly
250 Jewish refugees from Russia
and the Ukraine in Greensboro.
There are also approximately 100
Albanian Kosovars recently
resettled in Greater Greensboro.
Many Bosnians, especially
members of the older generation,
hope to return to their country
someday. Those Bosnians who
owned property, but were forced
to flee for their lives because of
the war, still retain legal owner-
ship of the property that they left
behind.
For most Eastern Europeans
the age for retirement is 55. Many
older Eastern Europeans worked
hard their whole lives and were
planning for retirement when
political situations in their native
countries forced them to leave.
People express frustration and
sadness that once they immigrate
to the United States they may
lose their retirement savings due
to unexpected economic hardship.
Men and women at age 55 must
continue to work well beyond
the age at which they expected
to retire.
LANGUAGE The language of
Bosnia has traditionally been
categorized as Serbo-Croatian.
However, with nationalist feelings
being strong, many are claiming
that their language is unique and
different, and insist that they
speak Serb, Croat, Bosnian, or
Yugoslavian. Many people also
speak German, English, or
another second language. In most
respects, Serbo-Croatian is similar
enough to English that Bosnians
are able to learn English without
exceptional difficulty. Russians
speak Russian and many also
learn some English in school.
RELIGIOUS PRACTICES &
BELIEFS Much of Europe has
become very secularized, and
formal religion is not as strong
as in the United States. However,
religion is often a big factor for
Eastern European refugees.
The Bosnian population is
more religiously diverse than
other Balkan countries: 40% are
Eastern Orthodox (primarily
Serbs); 38% are Muslim; and
22% are Catholic (most Croatian).
Albanians are largely Muslim
although there are also some
Albanians who are orthodox,
Roman Catholics, and evangelical
Christians.
Most Russians who are mem-
bers of a faith community are
orthodox Christians and belong
to the Russian Orthodox Church.
However, most refugees resettled
in North Carolina are not
orthodox. Most Russians in
Greensboro are Jewish, resettled
through Jewish Family Services.
Russian Jewish refugees were
forbidden to practice their
religion in their native country
and many have only recently
come to learn and understand
more about their own religion.
Asheville has become a desirable
site for Russian and Ukrainian
evangelical Christians, with a
population of several thousand
and a network of ethnic churches.
While the Islam practiced in
Eastern Europe is usually not as
strict as Islam in other parts of
the world, the Islamic religion has
an impact on health beliefs and
practices. The laws of Islam
dictates meticulous hygiene
practices. Muslim women are
often modest and hence less
likely to report gynecological
problems. Muslims should be
CULTURE
Page 3
seen by doctors of the same sex
whenever possible. Bosnian
women who are Muslim are
reported to be less intent on
maintaining extreme modesty and
are more willing to report gyne-
cological problems.
SOCIAL CLASS Some believe
that Eastern Europeans have less
class discrimination than Western
Europeans. This may be a concept
that was internalized during the
period of Soviet rule. Everyone
has an equal opportunity to
access a good education and
employment. A person’s class
status appears to be of less
importance than their level of
education.
Russian immigrants appear to
subscribe to the Western concept
of social class, with society
members considered to be upper,
middle, and lower class based on
income levels. There are also
designations for the nouveau riche
(people with more recently
acquired wealth than good taste
or manners), and for a bohemian
class of people who, though not
financially well off, are well
respected for their creativity and
artistic talents. In Russia, people
with middle and upper class
status lived in larger cities while
the majority of the poor lived in
more rural areas. However, those
individuals from less privileged
classes will also be those least
likely to have formal educations.
EDUCATION Education is a
source of pride and of special
importance to both Russians and
Bosnians. In their home countries
education was free and many
people received advanced degrees
and technical training. In fact,
Russians are thought to have one
of the highest educational levels
in the world. It is a great source
of frustration to many Russian
refugees and immigrants that their
certifications and educational
degrees do not transfer to fulfill
requirements for colleges and
universities or employment in the
United States. Both Bosnian and
Russian immigrants and refugees
often work hard and use large
portions of their financial
resources to achieve diplomas for
degrees that they already hold in
their native countries. Many
people work in jobs for which
they are over qualified and they
experience job dissatisfaction in
the United States.
In the United States, Russians
typically live in nuclear families,
although it is not uncommon for
extended family members to live
in the same household. Married
couples have between two and
four children. Russians, in their
native country, have been very
dependent on a close knit family
for survival. In Russia it was
common for two or three genera-
tions of family members to live
together. Married children with
spouses often remained living
with one of the couple’s parents.
GENDER ROLES Due to financial
stresses, men and women are
often both working jobs. Women
take responsibility for managing
the home. Men provide financial
support for the family and act as
the head of the household.
Traditional dating and
marriage practices vary according
to country of origin, though it is
reported that most Bosnian and
Russian youth begin dating in
high school and make their own
choices about marital partners.
In Russia, people typically married
between the ages of 18 and 23.
It is undesirable for a woman to
be over 25 and still single.
Marriage gives a Russian woman
social status and a woman’s career
is considered less important.
Bosnians more often live in
nuclear families. Relationships
between men and women are
more egalitarian. Women have
careers but still act as the primary
caretaker of household affairs.
FAMILY &
REL ATIONSHIPS
Page 4
HEALTH BELIEFS Except for the
notable fact that the health care
system in Russia and Bosnia is
socialized, basic health care in
the United States is not unfamiliar
to Eastern Europeans. In their
native countries more emphasis
may have been placed on primary
care, although some tests and
procedures were not available.
Nearly all Bosnians and Russians
are familiar with western
concepts of health and disease.
Some Eastern Europeans express
a disappointment with the poor
quality and inaccessibility of
medical care in the United States.
Though there is some distrust of
medical professionals reported
by Eastern Europeans, patients
typically comply with doctors’
recommendations and treatment
regimens.
MENTAL HEALTH Mental health
issues to consider when working
with refugees from Eastern
Europe include post-traumatic
stress disorder and depression.
These issues are generally treated
through informal means, and
mental health services are rarely
accessed.
ALCOHOL USE Russians have a
reputation for being heavy
drinkers. It is unusual for a social
function to take place without the
presence of alcohol. Alcoholism is
a social problem aggravated by
social tradition and the culture
shock and post-traumatic stress
that is common with refugees.
OBSTACLES TO ACCESSING
CARE The language barrier is
the largest obstacle for older
Eastern Europeans. Financial
limitations and transportation
may also pose problems.
Generally, Eastern Europeans
express some of the same
complaints that most Americans
do in regard to accessing health
care services, including long
waits, the short time actually
spent with the physician, and the
high cost of treatment.
HEALTH &
WELLNESS
Sanja Grgic, Zlatko Topalovic and other members of the Guilford County
Eastern European community.
AC KN OWLEDGEMENTS