Annotated Bibliography: A Feminist Approach to Little Women Film

Thesis: The film little women call on the self-sacrifice that women choose to ultimately yield

happiness unto others by maintaining a balance in family duties and their desire for growth. The

film also describes the family as a model in society, portrays women as artists, and analyses the

role of gender and feminism. The film describes that true sacrifice in women is based on

compassion, love, selflessness, charity, and morality and role. The central concern is the struggle

women face in maintaining a balance between personal growth and family duty. Thus, it

maintains that gender stereotyping is dangerous, and it is essential to be genuine.

Grasso, Linda. "Louisa May Alcott's" Magic Inkstand": Little Women, feminism, and the

myth of regeneration." Frontiers: A Journal of Women Studies 19.1 (1998): 177-192.

Louisa May Alcott composed the novel "Little Women" and described a family with four

daughters: Margaret, Elizabeth, Josephine; and Amy. The book mainly reflects on human life,

which constantly requires growth, and the novel portrays the equality of women in gender-based

roles. Feminism in the story enables readers to learn more about the characters. Liberal feminism

is represented in the book as children of the march family strive to help their mothers meet their

needs. They buy their mother a Christmas present through contributions from their hard-earned

money. This portrays that women can satisfy their needs through hard work and accomplish that

in total freedom to fulfilment. Marxist feminism is portrayed since when their father leaves for

duty; his position in the family is assumed by one of them and shows that roles change and a

woman can be the breadwinner of the family. A woman is defined by the work she does or self-

conception. Jo proves existentialist feminism when she portrays a man's attitude by insisting that

she instead go out to the world rather than stay at home, thus embracing labels, definitions and

becoming a self-subject. Radical feminism reflects the struggle that causes women's oppression.
Women's biology is related to their pressure and are subjects of violence and sexual oppression,

and other uncomfortable punishments for women. Jo protests and feels uncomfortable with

Amy's teacher's punishment. This portrays that women yearn the same as men to fulfil their

personal needs, become independent beings, and earn income.

Schaffstall, Katherine (February 8, 2020). "Oscars: 10 Things to Know About Best Picture

Nominee 'Little Women'". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on June

15. 2020. Retrieved on June 15, 2020.

The author of the article states that the little women began from Greta Gerwig's love for the

novel written by Louisa May Alcott. Gerwig is said to write the screenplay using Alcott's diary,

and letters and pictures of young women from 19th-century paintings state that; the book

discussed art, women, and money which caught her interest and desired to dig more. Gerwig

creates a version where characters have an adult perspective and flashes back to their memories

in childhood. She twisted the movie and weaved the story to a rain machine rather than a happy

ending. Gerwig discusses her characters and aims at a young audience, thus the colour palettes

and contrasts for the sisters. The author also states that women wrote, produced, and directed the

little movie women, which became the third best nominee. The film also wanted to achieve a

small-town feeling. Thus, the source is essential to support the thesis of feminism.

Whipp, Glenn (July 5, 2018). "Why it's a perfect time for Greta Genvig's version of 'Little

Women'LLos Angeles Times. Archived from the original on November 9, 2019. Retrieved

November la 2019.

The author focuses on what the sisters might become rather than who they might marry. This

book's audience is young girls who should focus on improving their life by achieving their
gender roles and maintaining personal growth for themselves. The author insists that girls ask

who the march girls shall marry. She answers them by saying that they should seek their

ambitions since Jo, who came from a small town, ended up in the city as the best writer. She

achieved her dream while maintaining her family ties that bring out the three little women's

beauty to keep the balance, therefore supporting my thesis.

Bennett, J. (2020). This Is 'Little Women' for a New Era. Retrieved March 22. 2021, from.

www.nytimes.com > little-women-feminism-2019-movie

The author admires the heroine character of jo as a spunky and independent woman. She feels

that women face many critics in life, especially when they stand out for their roles. A woman

forfeits to changing and developing herself towards personal growth and thus perseveres in their

daily struggles of being genuine and authentic to their desires. The audience is young women

who have to learn oh how to handle critics and preserve as they try to balance their achievements

and family ties. Women face significant challenges, including structural barriers whereby even

her hard-earned salary is regarded as her husband's, showing how less meaningful a society

views a woman. Therefore, a woman should learn to adapt and develop an accessible, vibrant,

and fiery spirit in pursuit of goals. The world is learning to appreciate women who speak their

minds since lack of communication is causing anger and bitterness among women as they take

on motherhood and family roles pf raising children. The film's end is satisfactory since jo smiles

as her book gets printed a text that arks her self-growth.

Gass, Lexi (Design Chief), January 30, 2020. "Little Women" is a feminist movie, and

that's not a bad thing.

The author describes feminism as it occurs in the current years. Organizations have adopted

movements to push for equal pay for women and other feminist organizations to fight against

sexual harassment. However, anything that impacts women in the current generation is

considered feminist, and thus people may perceive the meaning differently. Some people

understand feminism as trying to gain dominance over men, belittling and hating men; which is

irony to the feminist intention of attaining equality and fighting to achieve world changes. Little

women film addressed the American audience through the classic story: which received critics

for being a feminist movie. The director of the film Greta Gerwig also directed "Lady Bird ",

which as few women acknowledge that women must break down traditional gender roles to build

thems3lves. The film depicts that women desire more than that the world expects for them. Meg

wanted a husband and children: jo had no interest in marriage and wanted to achieve her success,

Beth wanted to good for others as she stood by her family, and Amy desired a rich man and

wanted to live a fancy life. This shows that women also yearn for things in life, including

marriage and success. Critics argue of too much feminism diminished the message and charm of

the novel. Therefore, the story is about choice; and thus little women reinforce a feminist

approach to my thesis.

Gilbert, Sophie. "The Atlantic." The Lie of Little Women; 2018, Accessed Sept 2018.of

www.theatlantic.com > magazine > archive > 2018/09

the author depicts that Little Women is multifaceted. It was an inspiration from Alcott's

biography, where deprivation and poverty were an everyday reality. The audience is a young

audience that aligns the complexities that bind women and withholds them from achieving their

dreams. In her journal, Alcott wrote that writing sensational stories was her passion and her

adventurous way to prosperity which suited her natural ambition. The film portrays how she
seemed freed from the cultural constraints of a patriarchal generation. The author shows her

relentless spirit as she explores women's roles in the home and world perspectives.

Julia Mickenberg: "Girlhood and Little Women," in Children and Youth in History: Item

40: https://chnm.gmu.edu/cyh/items/show/80. (accessed September 23: 2021).

The author describes that in the 19th century had the girlchild go through tumbles and rough

pursuits by finding a path for life. Upon approaching womanhood, their freedom ended, and they

were bound by society and expected to get married and assume household duties and women

roles. Little Women shows nostalgia that women face as they pursue future aspirations than

settle women's roles. Little women show moral and religious messages in family and home life

as a framing device is served by Pilgrims Progress. Therefore: the author portrays feminism and

aids in the thesis statement.

Dewi, Nurmala, and Tatia Ishlah Medina. "The Feminism Portrayed in Greta Gerwig's

Movie Little Women; Analysis In Modern Era." JEE (Journal of English Education) 6.2

(2020): 104-116.

The author describes the feminism movement that affects women's identity character shows that

a woman can change a life's perspective to achieve both careers and family matters. Women can

also have a voice in all aspects, and the movie shows a women's role in attaining self-

actualization without breaking her identity. The film shows how women have various parts of

facing life and is a good reference for women in personal development.