I'll try to describe major types russian women can belong to. The classification is based on the principle of correlation of four factors: 1) appearance, 2) IQ, 3) self-evaluation, 4) social status.

1st type: russian women with bright prepossessing appearance, considerable mental abilities, with an adequate self-evaluation and a rather high and stable social status. Lately, the women of this type can be encountered in greater numbers in Russia, but they are mostly city-dwellers. Most women of this type live in industrial and commercial centers.

For: You won't be ashamed of your choice: you will have a right to be proud when taking such a woman out; she will make a good companion for your mind, as well as for your heart, as the Russian saying goes. She is able not only of taking, but of listening as well as giving sound advice. Your self-esteem will be satisfied: if such a woman has chosen you, then you are a really worthy man.

Against: Leadership is in man's nature. That's why before you bind yourself to such a woman, think it over whether it will be easy for you to comply with her leadership; won't her overwhelming positiveness cast a shade upon your own personality and assimilate it: won't you feel a free supplement to her merits?

2nd type: Beautiful and intelligent russian women of a high social status, but for a number of reasons (upbringing, failures in private life) their self-esteem is short of adequacy.

For: It is much easier to make the relationship take shape with such a woman; she will think of you as of a winning ticket which the wind of fortune has thrown into her humble path; you'll get hold of a 1st type woman but for awareness of her own attractiveness. It will make you feel a lucky gold-digger who has come upon a nugget.

Against: Women of this type can get scared of the prospect of relations with you, can refuse to believe in your good feelings and intentions because of I-don't-deserve-him attitude, so that you will be forced into proving the contrary time and again with a risk of getting bored to death; besides, you risk marrying a woman who doesn't love you for very often women of this type choose a man obviously inferior to them to make their own beauty and intelligence more prominent, emphasized by such a 'background', and you will agree that being a 'background' is not a most pleasant thing. Therefore, make sure that her feelings are genuine before you marry a woman of this type.

3rd type: Beautiful but rather limited russian women who are usually in love with their own person. As a rule, they prefer to work as models, secretaries and aspire to becoming actresses.

For: Is there a man who, even for a moment, hasn't dreamt of marrying Claudia Schiffer of Marilyn Monroe? It is great to take such a woman out for she provokes envy almost in everybody.

Against: Such beauty can be compared to a box of chocolates: they are sweet. But it is in human nature that a person can't survive on chocolates only, in the long run he will long for something more nutritious. It's the same with women: after all, some day you'll want to talk with her, to share you joys and sorrows, to get her advice and help. But do not expect this from the woman of the 3rd type. Women of this type can be placed into the category of women to beware of (see the unit "russian women to Beware Of").

4th type: russian women of unprepossessing appearance and of very high level of intelligence. They are usually engaged in scientific work. Depending on the self-evaluation two subtypes can be distinguished:

a) adequate self-evaluation. Women of this type find a partner without much difficulty. They are aware of their winning and losing points and learn, in the long run, to emphasize the first and to smooth over the latter.

For: Such woman will never bore you, since she'll always find a topic for a conversation. You will never know the throe of jealousy: there are few men who are indifferent to looks craving for exclusively intellectual intercourse; you'll always remain a superman for her.

Against: Not all of your acquaintances will appreciate your choice: people will judge your choice by its exterior;

b) understated level of self-evaluation. Such women are colloquially called "grey mice". Their own neuroses present the strongest restriction to their life.

For: The same as in the first subtype.

Against: It will take you much time and effort to raise her level of self-evaluation up to adequacy, to make her feel self-assured; her neuroses may start to interfere with your life: she may shun the society of your friends and making visits: she may give up pretty clothes not to draw attention to herself.

5th type: This type takes a middle position. Women of this type can be called neither beautiful nor ugly; they will not set the Thames on fire but are far from being stupid, have an adequate level of self-evaluation; in most cases they belong to the middle class; they do not like to take the responsibility in business on themselves.

For: Women of this type are the most complete personification of qualities inherent in the russian woman in general; they are domestic, comforting, not intricate at all. You'll always feel at ease with them, they value their husband and know how to please him, they make the best mothers and housewives.

Against: If you favor surprises, mysteries, surges of emotion, tension of passions, diversity - this is not your type.

6th type: Women of unprepossessing appearance and low level of intelligence, whom you are unlikely to get interested in. Women of this type of an inadequately high level of self-evaluation may be considered dangerous: you'd better get round them (see the chapter "russian women to Beware Of").

Apart from this classification, the russian woman can perform several social parts: the Mother, the Mistress, the Wife.

The Mother

In Russian mentality the woman is, above all, identified with a mother. A kind, patient, child-loving, wise, with a maternal instinct of support and protection, strong-willed, strong and just, caring patroness.

The Wife

Tranquil, even tempered, virtuous, rational, modest, caring, practical, neat, prefers to dress well but not provocatively. In her relations with the man she values most of all reliability and stability. She will take care of her man's looks and his proper diet. Has a tendency to sacrifice her own interests. Her attitudes are conservative.

The Mistress

Emotional, impressionable, unpredictable, playful, flirtatious, capricious, sexual, sensuous, prefers to dress in bright, striking colors. In her relations with men she values most of all the amorous atmosphere, sex. She seldom worries about marriage. Bringing up children is not her idea of life.

Thus, the type a specific woman belongs to is determined by a combination of various factors and by her personality. Your search of a woman with a clear-cut mark of an isolated type from the above mentioned is most likely bound to be a failure because each russian woman will try on several roles in her life.

Index: Chapter 1: Russian women types Chapter 2: Russian women and the social structure of Russia Chapter 3: Russian women and religion Chapter 4: Russian women and culture Chapter 5: Russian women and education, profession Chapter 6: Russian women and standard of living Chapter 7: Russian women and make up, clothes Chapter 8: Russian women and health Chapter 9: Russian women and nutrition Chapter 10: Russian women and house, housekeeping duties Chapter 11: Russian women and money Chapter 12: Russian women and leisure, hobby Chapter 13: Russian women and nature Chapter 14: Russian women and achievements of technology Chapter 15: Russian women and harmful habits Chapter 16: Russian women and getting acquainted, courting Chapter 17: Russian women and love for a man Chapter 18: Russian women and wedding Chapter 19: Russian women and sex Chapter 20: Russian women and her husband Chapter 21: Russian women and children Chapter 22: Russian woman and her relatives Chapter 23: Russian women and family problems Chapter 24: Russian women to beware of Enclosure: A List of Works by Russian Classics You May Want to Read to Understand the russian woman