East vs. West: An Insider’s Perspective on Discrimination in France and Russia

Written by Elisa Millet

Edited by Mathias Habal-Shore

Due to my upbringing in Russia and my current schooling in France, I’ve been able to experience two sides of Europe: the perspectives of both east and west. In both countries, discriminatory behavior is illegal, but the ways in which these laws are enforced and the specific types of discrimination that are prohibited differ. For this piece, I will focus on racial and LGBTQ prejudice; a discussion of religious bigotry and antisemitism specifically merits its own article.

In Russia, the federal law "On the Prohibition of Discrimination" was passed in 2013 and prohibits discrimination on the grounds of race, ethnicity, gender, language, religion, and social status. However, this law has been criticized for not fully addressing all forms of discrimination, such as discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. In fact, the government instituted laws censoring all LGBT+ promotion and advocacy and continues to tighten its laws against the LGBT+ community, enacting fines and even expelling non-citizens who advocate for the movement. In essence, the government has taken the position that a person’s past and present behavior and even their personality can be considered propaganda. The St Petersburg-based journalist and activist, Boris Konakov, who has been the subject of homophobic violence himself, crystalized this notion when he said, "The state says that I am propaganda, that my personality is propaganda, that my activity is propaganda.”

Furthermore, the enforcement of anti-discrimination laws in Russia has been criticized for being inadequate. Human rights organizations have reported instances of discrimination, particularly against ethnic and religious minorities, that have gone unpunished. There have also been concerns about the independence of the judiciary and its ability to enforce anti-discrimination laws impartially.

In France, anti-discrimination laws are more comprehensive and strictly enforced. The French Constitution prohibits discrimination on the grounds of race, gender, sexual orientation, and other characteristics. In addition to federal laws, regional and local laws prohibit discrimination in specific areas, such as employment and housing. France has taken several steps to protect its LGBT+ citizens, such as legalizing same-sex marriage and granting same-sex couples adoption rights. In addition, more recent laws prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. In fact, France is considered by many to be one of the most gay-friendly countries in the world.

France also has a specialized body, the Defender of Rights, which is responsible for promoting and protecting the rights of individuals and ensuring that anti-discrimination laws are effectively enforced. This organization has the authority to investigate allegations of discrimination and can impose sanctions on individuals or organizations that violate the law.

I can’t help but think of how my parents’ generation approaches the LGBT+ community. In my personal experience, Russian parents’ reactions to their children coming out usually range from, “I would rather you are normal,” to “I don’t want you in my house.” By contrast, French parents are more accepting and supportive of their children’s choices regarding sexual orientation.

In Russia, racism is generally considered more morally wrong than homophobia, and it still exists, but research shows that racism is much more prevalent in France.

In essence, France is more progressive on LGBT+ rights than Russia, and Russia is more progressive when it comes to racist attitudes than France. What is the root cause of this?

One explanation may be that because of Russia’s enormous land mass, it is made up of numerous ethnically diverse territories. Consequently, Russians are accustomed to a multi-ethnic population that has existed since Russia’s founding and ebbed and flowed in its diversity over the years as Russia acquired and lost territory. On the other hand, France was pretty monocultural until the arrival of slaves in France at the end of the 16th century. White dominance persists in French society, perhaps partially as a lingering consequence of the age of slavery. My impression is that Russians are able to consider persons of any race as fellow Russians, whereas it is much harder for many French to consider those of an ethnic minority as fellow Frenchpersons.

As two very different countries with their own culture, history, laws, religion, norms, and cuisine, France and Russia will invariably have different attitudes about race and address discrimination differently. Depending on the country and its norms, some may even consider discrimination to be a “normal” part of their society.

While both Russia and France have laws against discrimination, the enforcement and comprehensiveness of these laws differ. In Russia, anti-discrimination laws are limited in scope and their enforcement has been criticized, while in France, the laws are more comprehensive and strictly enforced.

Having lived in Russia and France, I would say France is more progressive overall. Russians are comfortable with things that are considered unacceptable in France. That said, no amount of performative law-making and “equality, inclusivity and diversity” measures can disguise the reality that prejudicial sentiments are still surreptitiously part of French and Russian society.

The work of ensuring that all individuals are afforded equal rights and protections against discrimination is ongoing. We must never give up the fight to reduce it and, in an ideal world, eliminate it.