Lillian Hellman's early life greatly influenced her feminist beliefs. Growing up in a politically active family, she was exposed to issues of gender inequality and activism from a young age. Her experiences of working as a playwright in a male-dominated industry fueled her determination to highlight women's rights and societal roles in her work. In plays like The Little Foxes, she tackled themes of power, betrayal, and female autonomy. Hellman's commitment to social justice and her defiance against societal norms helped to shape the feminist discourse in her time.