The Absence of Men in Little Women In her critical essay, “The House-Band”: The Education of Men in Little Women, Anne Dalke argues that the success of the women lies not in their independence, but in the remaking of the men on a female pattern. According to Dalke, the March women could not self-actualize without the men re-orienting their way of thinking. Male and female roles were clearly defined in the nineteenth century, but Dalke points out that by crossing the gender line, the men are able to realize their own identity, and become nurturing husbands and fathers. By learning new ways of being men, and reworking their masculinity they become equal partners to their wives, and respected members of the March family circle. Dalke presents a strong feminist view of the March women, but points out their success lies in the equal involvement of both partners and their mutual commitment to nurture each other. I agree with Dalke’s interpretation, but would also recognize, that it is the absence of a maternal figure in the lives of the men that ultimately attracts them to the March family. Furthermore, the willingness of the men to change their attitudes is because they are not capable of functioning in the expected traditional male role. The women choose independence over conformity but in an untraditional way, they teach the men the value of equality within a marriage. The women become equal with their men but only within the confines of their home, a small step perhaps. Despite the societal constraints of being female, the March women represent a strong matriarchal power, which seem to attract their men. “Women work a good many miracles, and I have a persuasion that they may perform even that of raising the standard of manhood by refusing to echo such sayings. Let the boys be boys.” (330) Alcott believes that women have the ability to influence