Marriage is the ultimate indemnification of patriarchy and has been the primary living situation for men and women as far back as recorded history. Marriage was originally an undertaking that was in the best interest of everyone involved; an equal sharing of responsibility in order to raise a family. Because woman is the vessel for childbearing, her natural role became that of the caretaker and nurturer of the children and custodian of the home. Men became the primary hunters and protectors of their families. Being equipped with hormones that promote physical strength, possessive and sometimes aggressive behavior, men perceived themselves as more powerful than women and their role more important. They proclaimed themselves directors of the family.
Over time, marriage became a social norm and was expected to be the natural desire of men, and particularly women. Man, being the "dominant sex", has traditionally been the pursuer, deciding which woman is worthy of his vows. Those men and women who have not chosen to partake of this union have been viewed as being undesirable or somehow flawed.
Fiction writers have naturally followed suit, presenting their work within the framework of marriage as the foundation of social structure. In the majority of traditional stories, the hero and heroine find each other, fall in love, and live happily ever after. Even when marriage was not approached as an issue within the story, it was assumed to be the norm and those who were unmarried were unhappy about it, or eccentric. Women authors with less rigid views of gender roles have often used their craft to express their alternative ideas and opinions. The novel Little Women by Louisa May Alcott and the short story How Celia Changed her Mind by Rose Terry Cooke are examples of works whose authors use their fictional characters to present alternative views to marriage. .
In Little Women, Louisa May Alcott uses her main character, Jo March, to present unconventional views to her audience.