The social minority always provokes controversial views and judgments. White crows are objects of sympathy, compassion, criticism and indignation. The albino man evokes the most vivid emotions in society - from admiration to disgust. However, there is no mysticism in this anomaly - it is all a matter of a genetic mutation that causes tyrosinase blockade.
This enzyme is necessary for the production of melanin, which is responsible for the color of the skin, hair, and
iris. Violations of the melanin-pigment system - of a genetic nature, their treatment and correction are impossible. After all, if you intervene in the structure of DNA, the consequences can be much more severe.
For a sample of 20,000 Europeans, there is only one albino person. In Nigeria, when examining about 15,000 black children, 5 were found with depigmentation. The frequency of albinos among the Indians of Panama is 1 in 132 people. Genetic mutation is inherited, but manifests itself only after 10 generations.
Albino is a person whose life can take shape in the most unpredictable way. An African with this anomaly will have a hard time - in the region such people are considered inferior, cause suspicion, and his family bears the stigma of shame and alienation for the rest of his life. In Tanzania, an albino man may be the victim of violent religious beliefs, according to which the flesh of such people is used by local healers to treat diseases. In East Africa, in connection with this, the Albino Association of Malawi community was even created, the purpose of which was to attract the attention of the public and the state to the problems of protection and socialization of 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 unique natural material that can be successfully beaten.
Unfortunately, albinism is often accompanied by
visual impairment (nystagmus, strabismus, photophobia), and skin hypersensitivity. Traditionally, two types of anomalies are distinguished: cutaneous-ocular (CGA) and ocular (GA), which, in turn, have varying degrees of severity - from complete depigmentation to partial. Severe KGA is sometimes accompanied by mental retardation, impaired facial features, hypogonadism, and obesity.
However, the greatest danger to the albino, of course, is society. And if the skin can be protected, then it is almost impossible to escape from the attacks and inquisitive looks of others. The albino man has been rehabilitated somewhat lately, films are being made about him, books are being written. Unfortunately, the image of the “white” man in art sources is somewhat perverted. 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, build personal relationships. People are always afraid of the "other." Perhaps this is a kind of primitive fear of the unknown.