Social minority always provokes controversial views and judgments. White crows are objects of sympathy, compassion, criticism and indignation. An albino man evokes the most vivid emotions in society - from admiration to disgust. However, there is no mysticism in this anomaly - it's all about a genetic mutation that causes the blockade of tyrosinase.
This enzyme is necessary for the production of melanin, which is responsible for the color of the skin, hair, iris. Violations of the melanin-pigment system are of a genetic nature, their treatment and correction are impossible. After all, if you interfere with the structure of DNA, the consequences can be much more severe.
There is only one albino in a sample of 20,000 Europeans. In Nigeria, when examining about 15,000 Negro children, 5 were found with depigmentation. The frequency of occurrence of albinos among the Indians of Panama is 1 in 132 people. The genetic mutation is inherited, but manifests itself only after 10 generations.
Albino - a person whose life can turn outin the most unpredictable way. An African with this anomaly will have a hard time - in the region such people are considered inferior, arouse suspicion, and his family bears the stigma and alienation for the rest of his life. In Tanzania, an albino person can become a victim of cruel religious beliefs, according to which the flesh of such people is used by local healers to treat diseases. In East Africa, in this regard, even the Albino Association of Malawi community was created, the purpose of which was to draw the attention of the public and the state to the problems of protecting and socializing albinos.
In European countries, the situation is more optimistic. The albino man, whose photo can be found on the covers of glossy publications, has good career prospects in the modeling business. Thanks to this anomaly, Chinese Connie Chiu, African Americans Diandra Forrest and Sean Ross burst onto the podium. Fashion designers are not indifferent to such specific beauty and are ready to idolize albinos for their unique natural material that can be successfully played with.
Unfortunately, albinism is often accompanied by visual impairment (nystagmus, strabismus, photophobia), skin hypersensitivity. Traditionally, two types of anomalies are distinguished: skin-ocular (CHA) and ocular (HA), which, in turn, have varying degrees of severity - from complete depigmentation to partial. Severe CHA is sometimes accompanied by mental retardation, impaired facial features, hypogonadism, and obesity.
However, the greatest danger for an albino is certainlyrepresents society. And if the skin can be protected, then it is almost impossible to escape from the attacks and inquisitive glances of others. The albino man has been somewhat rehabilitated recently, films are being made about him, books are being written. Unfortunately, the image of a “white” person in literary sources is somewhat distorted. It is impossible to eradicate albinophobia from the consciousness of even a modern and progressive person. Statistics show that it is quite difficult for albinos to get a job, to build personal relationships. People are always afraid of the “other”. Perhaps it is some primal fear of the unknown.
