ABSTRACT
The Central Workers' Circle was formed in late 1889 and lasted for over four years until it collapsed due to the arrest of its leading figures in 1894. Through the membership of the Central Workers' Circle, perhaps a composite portrait of the leadership of the Central Workers' Circle can explain this paradox in Russian history. The members associated with the Central Workers' Circle were predominantly male. Out of the thirty people examined, only four were women. Thus, women who might against all obstacles, have the necessary high skills and education to join the Central Workers' Circle found a great bias against them among their male counterparts. The attitudes and values of members of the Central Workers' Circle were critical to understand the group's purposes and priorities. The membership of the Central Workers' Circle had dramatically different attitudes from the rest of the working class on the subject of religion.
