What are some stereoypes/ideas about Russia you wish others, especially Americans would be educated about?

I'm an American who lived in Siberia for a few years. These are not all stereotypes, but here are a few of my earth-shattering revelations:

  1. Russians -- contrary to popular perception -- are actually quite scared of the cold. I used to think Russians were macho and walked outside in shorts and t-shirts when it was 0 degrees. Couldn't have been more wrong.

I almost got my ass kicked by my mother-in-law on multiple occasions for "not wearing a hat" when it was like 50F (10 celsius) outside. Not a lot of Russians seem to like the cold, although they do say it is "in their bones." This usually justifies drinking 10-12 cups of scalding hot tea per day, and going to the banya if you have one. In short, my overwhelming sentiment is that Russians are pussies when it comes to the cold. Sorry, I gotta speak truth to power on that one.

Oh, and the "cold" is also used to justify any kind of sickness one gets during winter. If you get a real "cold" during the summer, you are a "loser" since it's not "cold" outside.

  1. People smile. A lot. I guess the 90s are over. The daily grind of poverty definitely takes its toll on Russians, but even outside I had no problem connecting with strangers, getting smiles, and even laughing. Not to mention in the private space (i.e. at home) there is laughter with friends. Russians are much more informal and much less stern than I pictured. Levels of personal satisfaction seem to be getting higher. They are egalitarian and don't put much stock in formality. I think this is one of the biggest similarities with Americans and something that can serve as a basis for cultural connection.

But, basically, a lot of people are concerned about day-to-day finances and definitely the living experience of the 90s has worn people down, and some definitely don't smile because of this. I have never heard more discussions about the cost of living than I did in Russia. "Ruble this" "Ruble that" "50 rubles." Yeah, people definitely keep track of their money here, and money (i.e. cost of living) because of historical experiences is probably closely related to the public display of happiness. Levels of happiness and openness would definitely vary city-by-city because of this.

  1. These dudes dress up. Forget about personal informality -- fashion wise Russians dress formally. You aren't going to see any middle aged moms walking out of the grocery store in sweaty workout clothes -- a ubiquitous sight in America. If you go outside, you have prepared for it, especially women. People put a high priority on looking presentable. Even if the street is iced over, the men will be wearing leather dress shoes instead of something with more traction.

  2. Back to the economic stuff, I came away with the impression that there is a definite divide in society. I don't think people want to admit it, but the divide between the have's and have-not's is growing. Those who can buy a car vs. those who have to trek through the snow and take the bus. Those who inherited their Soviet apartment from their parents vs. those who have bought a new apartment in a "noviyy dom" (new apartment block). The fact that many people live in the same apartments as 20+ years ago means that there is largely no phenomenon of "ghettos" in Russia (there are some nuances, but it holds true for my city and others I know). But, I think that is definitely going to change in the next 25-50 years, and it probably won't be pretty. Class divisions will be exacerbated, and I see the possibility of wide-spread social discontent coming out of that. Who knows how this dynamic will change based on the recent economic sanctions.

  3. On a lighter note, here's a reverse stereotype -- Russians think Americans only associate "bears" with Siberia/Russia. All of the cheeky little university students would say to me, "Are you surprised to not see me walking with a bear? Hehehe." Uh, no, I'm not surprised, I never associated bears with Russia. I think the mafia and vodka are much more widely held stereotypes by Americans.

  4. Egalitarianism. Russia is really egalitarian and DIVERSE. Healthcare is free, university education is largely free. Weddings are generic and very egalitarian (because they are all performed at the same place, ZAGS). Men also have the common experience of serving in the military. The Russian experience is pretty uniform in some ways, which I think lends to a pretty consistent social identity (some of those in Western governments who predict the demise or breakup of Russia probably wouldn't want to hear that). You also hear way more languages on the streets of a mid-size Russian city (i.e. Azeri, Kazakh, Kyrgyz, and Tajik) than you would on the streets of a comparable American city. This is not to mention the languages that are spoken by people from various Russian regions (Tatars being a main one, but also other ethnic groups). At the same time, the Russian government does not appear to have an overt agenda to "foster diversity" like is the case in America (just based on my own observations). Diversity in Russia is just a fact, and frankly it's refreshing to not have it pushed on you so overtly and through multiple means like it is in the US. Of course this is in contention as Russia grapples with its identity, but the current state of things is pretty balanced I'd say. Simply, lived experience showed me that Russia is just as much, if not more multicultural and diverse than the US.

  5. Values. I have no idea what Russian values are. In the supermarkets they sell a quite popular car air freshener that say "my work is sex." Another popular has a graphic of a speedometer type thing, along with the phrase "orgasm tester." Despite this evident sexual permissibility, the family seems to be a very strong institution. And, because not all families have cars, this means you tend to see many more children outside, many more strollers, etc. Definiely no evidence of declining birthrate -- kids are everywhere, and highly valued. Russia seems to be caught in this one, stuck between which way to go. However, I think there is a distinctly "Russian" experience with family and morality that likely exists separate from prevailing political systems.

I'd be happy to answer any questions, but this are the most important recollections I can muster right now. They are just my observations, nothing more or less. The US and Russia are not better or worse in absolute terms -- just different, and better or worse in different ways on individual issues. I think there is lots of room for understanding, and getting to better understand each culture -- because I think the common knowledge of cultures between Americans and Russians is pretty low. And, because of that, I have hope for our peoples and futures. :)

/r/russia Thread