ЖЕНЩИНЫ В РОССИЙСКОМ ВЫСШЕМ КЛАССЕ
WOMEN IN THE RUSSIAN UPPER CLASS

Summary/Abstract: This article examines the role of women in Russia’s political elite and upper class, focusing on qualitative rather than quantitative aspects of their influence. Two distinct types of women in the upper class are identified: “professionals” — women who have attained high positions in politics and business through personal achievements; “beau monde” — women whose status is derived from marital or familial ties to influential men. The research methodology combines: biographical analysis of establishment and upper-class representatives; social network analysis (SNA); a composite “Administrative Resource Index” measuring social capital through membership in elite circles. Key findings reveal: women constitute only 18,7 % of the upper class, with representation varying from 6 % in economic clusters to 55,2 % in the beau monde. Professional women, though underrepresented, are concentrated in politics and state structures, demonstrating deep systemic integration. Socialites form the periphery of the upper class, with influence based on conspicuous consumption and media visibility. The study concludes that despite persistent gender asymmetry, women’s role in Russia’s elite is evolving — from symbolic presence to tangible influence in key spheres.

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