“Women, they have minds, and they have souls, as well as just hearts. And they’ve got ambition, and they’ve got talent, as well as just beauty. I’m so sick of people saying that love is just all a woman is fit for.” (Jo March, Little Women, Greta Gerwig).
This is my favorite quote from the newest Little Women movie that came out this past year, and the reason Jo March is my inspirational woman for this theme week. The first time I ever read Little Women I was 7 years old and in second grade. I didn’t know then that this book would have a large impact on my life. My sophomore year in college I watched the Winona Ryder movie for the first time and fell back in love with the story. This year, the newest version of the movie came out and I “became a human again,” as I like to put it.
This past fall semester I had a serious case of FOMO, but in the aspect of missing out on life. As I have previously stated, in an earlier article, I am not experienced in the dating/guy area of life, and all of my friends have a lot more confidence when approaching those situations. One time I went out dancing with my friends and a bunch of guys came up to ask them to dance. I felt sad and left out, so I sat on the edge of the crowd when one of the guys came up to talk to me.
“You should get out there and dance. I bet if you were out there, the guys would love you. Anyone would come dance with you,” he said. I thought it was nice that he was trying to encourage me, but what I really heard was: “I’m sure somebody would love to dance with you, but it is definitely not me.” Story of my life. After that I stopped going out because all of the fun of hanging out with my friends had turned into them impressing guys and me just waiting to go home.
Then the best scene in the movie came on. Jo was talking to Marmie about her life after she turned down Laurie’s proposals, and she tells Marmie that if Laurie asked her again she would say yes because she wants to be loved. Then Jo drops this wisdom: “Women, they have minds and they have souls as well as just hearts. And they’ve got ambition and they’ve got talent as well as just beauty, and I’m so sick of people saying that love is just all a woman is fit for. I’m so sick of it! But… I am so lonely.” And I realized that Jo March realized what it felt like to want to be single, and pursue a career, but also feel so alone in the world. She had all the love of her family and friends but still craved a special connection with someone.
My entire life was put into perspective after that movie. I realized that my entire life I had been okay with being single and the life I have created with my friends and family, but I put too much focus on trying to find a boyfriend because I was so afraid of being left behind. I realized that my family and friends loved me which made me understand that I am not alone, and I wasn’t left behind because romance is not all there is in a woman’s life. It’s really hard to put words behind my love for Jo March because it was one of those moments when a character puts into words and emotions into feelings that only you thought was something you went through. Jo March made me realize that I as a person am whole and good on my own with my friends and family, and romantic relationships are not all there is to life. She also made me realize that it is okay to be strong and independent, but still feel sad because you feel left out and alone as long as you don’t let it take over your life. Jo March made me feel like a person again and that your worth does not come from men and romantic relationships, but from your own passions, ambitions, and what you think as well as what you feel.