Russia's Unwanted Children

Abstract

This study focuses on the plight of various categories of marginalized children in urban Russia, including orphans, children with some family ties in special boarding homes and street children. After a presentation of data on marginalized children in Russia within a global context and as background to the study, this article investigates the changing cultural views of marginalized children that Russian adults have developed since the Second World War. Changes in views have led to a change in the lifestyles of unwanted children in Russia, which further contributes to criminal activity and poverty on the streets of Moscow and St Petersburg.