Historian Viktor Dubov will talk about those who stepped beyond the "domestic circle" in the 19th century and influenced science, literature, and public life. The lecture focuses on the real fates of women who broke conventional notions of gender roles and left a significant mark in the history of the country, even though their names remained on the periphery of textbooks for a long time. The 19th century in Russia is often recalled through reforms, wars, and the names of male politicians, yet in the shadows of these narratives are women who gradually changed the surrounding reality. Historian Viktor Dubov's lecture is dedicated to those who mastered university classrooms, engaged in scientific debates, created charitable and educational initiatives, and influenced literature and public thought, even if official texts did not record their contributions for a long time. At the center of the discussion are real biographies. The talk will cover noblewomen for whom charitable activities became a way to address social issues, female writers who challenged notions of "female" writing, patronesses who supported artists and scientists, and those who participated in social movements and discussed reforms on par with men. Through individual stories, it becomes evident how expectations of "proper" female behavior gradually changed and how difficult it was to defend one's own choices. Viktor Dubov shows how private life intertwined with a larger historical context. From discussing family structure, the conversation shifts to issues of education, access to professions, participation in charitable societies and circles. A separate block is dedicated to how the image of women in the 19th century was solidified in literature and memoirs, and why many important figures were forgotten or mentioned only in passing. This lecture is suitable for those interested in the history of Russia, gender issues, everyday culture, and a lively conversation about the past without dry dates and loud slogans.