Disability in the region of post-soviet and current Lithuanian cultures.
Different home is a personal exploration journey and an ongoing social study that started off as a university project in the beginning of 2021. It analyzes people individually and within communities, their experiences while living in a “home” some may call marvellous and one-of-a-kind, unusual or intolerable.
It didn't take long for me to realize why many people aren't comfortable opening up about themselves. At first, I wasn't sure if it was because of the older generation's Lithuanian mentality, which tends to be closed off and private, or if the topic itself was too sensitive. After speaking to a few individuals, my thoughts were confirmed - it wasn't because of a medical condition or disability, but rather due to the pressure they felt from society to conform to certain norms. As a result, many choose to keep their struggles hidden. “It’s not easy to maintain strength and believe in yourself when the environment is going against you” one person shared with me.
