Part 6/9:
The late 19th and early 20th centuries marked a transition for women in Russia. The industrial revolution opened new avenues for work, though prejudices regarding gender pay persisted. The possibility of upward mobility was rare for women, yet certain individuals could rise through unique circumstances—one such figure was Praskovya Zhemchugova, a serf actress who eventually married her master.
Contrastingly, many women faced grim futures; seduction often led to abandonment in a practice that left many vulnerable to destitution or worse.