Nadezhda Stasova

Nadezhda Stasova
Stasova painted in 1889 by Ilya Repin
Born	(1822-06-12)June 12, 1822 Tsarskoye Selo, Russia
Died	September 27, 1895(1895-09-27) (aged 73) Saint Petersburg, Russia
Nationality	Russian Empire
Occupations	Activist philanthropist
Movement	Feminism in Russia
Parent	Vasily Stasov (father)
Relatives	Vladimir Stasov (brother) Dmitry Stasov (brother) Elena Stasova (niece)

Nadezhda Vasilievna Stasova (Russian: Надежда Васильевна Стасова; June 12, 1822 – September 27, 1895) was a Russian educator, activist and feminist. Stasova was born into a noble and wealthy family; Tsar Alexander I of Russia was her godfather, and she received extensive private tutoring as a child. After experiencing family tragedy and personal disappointment as a young woman, she dedicated herself to women's education and economic empowerment. Alongside Anna Filosofova and Maria Trubnikova, Stasova was one of the earliest leaders of the Russian women's movement. Together, the three friends and allies were referred to as the "triumvirate".

They founded and led several organizations designed to promote women's cultural and economic independence, including a publishing cooperative. Subsequently, the triumvirate successfully pushed government officials to allow higher education for women, although continuing opposition meant that their successes were sometimes limited or reversed. Stasova eventually became the lead organizer of the Bestuzhev Courses in 1878, but a decade later was forced to resign under political pressure. In her final years, she tirelessly continued her support for the cause of women's rights in Russia. Stasova died in 1895.