Little Women

Jill P. May (Essay Date Spring-Summer 1994)

SOURCE: May, Jill P. "Feminism and Children's Literature: Fitting Little Women into the American Literary Canon." CEA Critic 56, no. 3 (spring-summer 1994): 19-27.

In the following essay, May contends that Little Women has been neglected by critics because it has been seen as a work solely for women and children. May suggests that the dismissive response to Little Women fails to consider either Alcott's literary craftsmanship or the book's commentary on contemporary gender roles.

Louisa May Alcott's Little Women is an American book that has been reviewed favorably by experts in children's literature throughout the twentieth century. In fact, Little Women has remained highly visible throughout American society: Textbooks written for undergraduate children's literature classes mention the book's continued popularity with children; new paperback editions are available in the bookstore chains; library lists of popular children's classics almost...