Bogota - Post Report Question and Answers
Are there problems with ethnic, race/racial minorities or religious prejudices? Gender equality?
It does seem like there can be some racial prejudices and some machismo gender biases but I cannot speak from experience. In general, there are more black people in coastal cities. I was surprised by how few are in Bogota, but our black friends that visited including with their small kids never had any issues and were treated well. - May 2024
There is still some machismo sexism but it's manageable; otherwise, in Colombia women generally wear whatever they want and showing off one's body is not viewed in a negative way at all. Most of the population is Catholic; followers of smaller world religions may not have a place of worship closely accessible to them in Bogota (research first). As mentioned before, there is some discrimination or racist attitudes against Afro-Colombians and Venezuelan migrants. - Aug 2023
I think the Bogotás are somewhat racist against black people and Afro-colombianos. - Feb 2021
See above. - Jul 2020
Isn't gender equality a problem everywhere? - Feb 2020
I believe so. I had heard that the darker your skin, the less well you're treated. I haven't seen it in action. - Sep 2018
African Americans are more frequently stopped by police for questioning and may experience more problems with stereotypes. - May 2018
I'm sure there are, however, it's not overly apparent. There is a pretty big social class disparity though that is quite noticeable. - Apr 2016
Since this is a Latin American country, indigenous people and those with African origins are more regularly celebrated and appreciated in public, but racism exists, and it can be subtly pernicious or overtly cruel. Some of my African-American friends have been shouted at and degraded in public, in addition to denied entry into clubs/restaurants. - Aug 2015
There are serious issues with race. Those with white skin are obviously treated much, much better than people of color. - Aug 2014
Colombians will deny prejudice but it exists. - Jun 2014
Bogotanos see themselves as the elite of Colombia and are openly prejudicial to darker-skinned Colombians from the coastal areas. - May 2013
Afro-colombians are often discriminated against. - Oct 2012
I've never heard it discussed on the social circuit, but there are definite racial issues. You only need to look at the editorial cartoons in the major newspaper to see things that would never be permitted in the US. - Jul 2012
No problems as long as you have money, fair skin, and high status. Otherwise, you will get the plastic smile and the deference afforded to 'those people' - Apr 2012
There is certainly latent racism, but it's not noticeable on the streets on a daily basis. - Dec 2011
I think there is a fair amount of prejudice between socio-economic groups, as well as between city and coastal groups. - Jul 2011
As in all of the Latino American countries, the rich Colombians have problems with dark-skinned people. - Nov 2010
There are racial prejudices against those of African descent. - Sep 2010
Bogotanos are mostly white, and they disparage Afro-Colombians who mostly live on the coasts. They call them costeños, which they use as a pejorative term, but they also call them monkeys, etc. - Aug 2010
It's not pervasive, but there is certainly racism towards those who look to be of African descent and towards indigenous people. - Aug 2010
No. - Aug 2010
They are racist against the indians and the afro. If you are blond you are going to be the king here. Blond kids are the hit here. - Jun 2010
Well, it is a Latin culture and so there is some machismo and some discrimination of Afro-heritage people, Colombian and otherwise. This is not as bad as in other Latin countries where I have lived (such as Peru). - Jan 2010
No glaring prejudices. - Dec 2008
Yes, Colombians are not racially or culturally sensitive. At a young age, kids call each other terrible names like 'negrito', etc. - Dec 2008
Somewhat with Afro-colombian and Afro-Americans. - Nov 2008
I'm an African American and have found no prejudices in this area at all. Finding a beautician to handle African American hair is the hardest part. - May 2008
Not really. If you are darker skinned, you may get mistaken for a nanny. Happens to me all the time, but nothing to worry about. - Apr 2008
