Ivan Turgenev's work, Sketches from a Hunter's Album, is a collection of short stories about his encounters with many different people. His stories provide the reader with an exceptionable account of Russian life through his vivid descriptions and explanations. Also, his stories present many aspects of the social and economic structure of serfdom. Many of Turgenev's stories shed light on the topic of gender issues during serfdom. They reveal the ghastly treatment of women through physical and psychological abuse. .
The story of "Khor and Kalinych", which tells about Turgenev's encounter with these two peasants, shows the reader of the ill treatment of women. During Turgenev's stay with Khor he witnessed many of the peasant's chauvinistic tendencies towards his wife and children. Turgenev offers a brief description of Khor's wife, " an aged and shrewish woman spent the whole day over the stove and was the source of persistent complaints and abuse; her sons paid not attention to her- Turgenev and Khor enjoyed each other's company and discussed many subjects relating to the life of the peasantry. As their discussion concluded, Turgenev asked Khor if he could stay the night in the barn. Khor agrees and immediately shouts orders for the women to bring a sheet and a pillow to the barn. As Turgenev leaves, Khor explains of his notion that "Women are a stupid lot by themselves." Although this statement refers to women as a collective group, Khor is alienating his own family. This shows of his lack of respect and decency he has of his family. This notion resurfaces the next day when Turgenev and Khor have breakfast together. Their discussion comes to marriage and Khor's son, Fedya, explains that he has no desire to marry. Fedya argues that there is no reason for him to marry because women are not good for anything except to argue with. Khor contradicts his son's naivety and explains that "A woman is a worker about the house" and serves the needs of their husband.
