Abstract：Sister Carrie is one of the most important and classical works in the 20th century literature in America. Once it was published, it has received the attention of both the reader and the critic.

　　　Concerning the interpretation of this masterpiece, many previous studies have pointed out its profound themes and the features of characters. From a different perspective, this paper is to analyze women’s status in America in Sister Carrie's time based on the combination of the social environment and the portrayals of characters, using the method of close-reading. 

　　　Though American industrialization brought lots of changes to American life, women still could not enjoy financial independence due to the meager wages and exploit from capitalists. Their role in family was still confined as housekeeper and mother, taking care of the family. Marriage was considered an approach of obtaining higher social status and wealth; men’s admiration and desire for women was to boost their ego.

Key words: Sister Carrie; American industrialization; women’s status

中文摘要：《嘉莉妹妹》是二十世纪美国文学的经典著作之一，一经问世就受到读者和评论界的关注。

　　　关于该小说的阐释，不少学者做出了卓有成效的探索，但这些研究多着眼于解读其主题和各角色的性格特征。本论文结合当时的社会环境和书中对各女性角色的描写，采用文本细读的方法，分析19世纪和20世纪之交的美国女性的地位。

　　　虽然工业革命给美国人的生活带来的巨大的变化，女性可以走出家门从事工作，但是由于工资低廉和受到资本家的剥削，女性依然没法获得经济独立。女性在家庭中的角色依然局限于仆人与母亲。婚姻通常作为女性获得更高社会地位和财富的手段；男性对女性的追求只为满足自身。

关键词：《嘉莉妹妹》; 美国工业革命; 女性地位