Feminism is the defense of equality between men and women on a social, political and economic level. In Dai Sijie's novel, Balzac and the Little Chinese Dressmaker, the narrator and his friend Luo want to civilize a young village girl they meet during their re-education, known as the Little Dressmaker. This novel shows a female protagonist, The Little Seamstress, who is not afraid to take control of her own future and goes against Luo and the narrator's stereotypical beliefs that she needs to be saved. Balzac and the Little Chinese Dressmaker is a piece of feminist literature because it uses the Little Dressmaker to demonstrate that women, regardless of background, are capable of doing many of the same things for themselves as men. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay At first, this novel could be mistaken for a sexist writing rather than a feminist one due to the way Dai Sijie portrays the little seamstress, however it is written through the perspective of the narrator and Luo, so it actually reflects the point of most men's views of women at the time, which the Little Dressmaker later disproves. The way the narrator describes her upon their first meeting gives the impression of an innocent girl who spends her days sewing for the benefit of the men of the village, which hints at a feminine and childlike character. There is a strong emphasis on her appearance and dress, and the narrator notes that her pink shoes also "caught attention, appearing delicate and sophisticated" (Sijie 21). There is no mention of any personality traits in this first encounter, but there is a huge amount of detail placed on the more superficial parts of the Little Seamstress, such as her shoes, alluding to the boys' mentality that she is possessed. Without even having the chance to get to know her, Luo and the narrator already consider her an uncivilized object. The Little Seamstress, on the other hand, recognizes what the boys might think of her and when she tells them that she can't read, she justifies herself by telling them "but don't think I'm stupid, because I like talking to people who know how to read and write" ( Sijie 25). She knows what assumptions might be made about her as a village girl and she quickly counters it by showing her intelligence. There is a feminist undertone here because the Little Dressmaker expresses her desire to be considered on the same level as a man despite her failures. Although she is described in a stereotypical manner by the narrator, the Little Seamstress's actions demonstrate an outspoken woman who has a thirst for knowledge but has not yet had the opportunity to reach her full potential. the trust is there and she begins to ignore increasingly misogynistic ideas. When talking about her tradition of diving into the lake to fetch Luo's keys, the Little Seamstress makes it clear that she does it because she wants to, not because someone else tells her to. She counters the impression one might get from this situation by saying, “I am not like a stupid dog that keeps running to catch the stick thrown by its master” (Sijie 144). The use of the word “silly,” which Little Seamstress denies, implies that she is smarter than that and aware of what she is doing. Luo is not her master and cannot control the Little Seamstress's choices; there is a balance in their relationship. By recognizing that she is in control of her life, the Little Seamstress comes closer to realizing the power she possesses as a woman in terms of exploring and discovering new things. Towards the end of the book, the Little Seamstress, no longer limited by the influence of men, recognizes that she can build herself.