The letter was used in the western hemisphere to study how strong bonds women formed influenced them.[6] Ramatoulaye and Aissatou's friendship helped them break away from social norms, gaining social and political respect without a male.
The letter was also used to understand women's views on polygamy. Some women in Senegal saw fault in polygamy and fought against it. Aissatou leaves her husband for practising polygamy and Ramatoulaye says no to marriage to another man.
The author was praised for her involvement in expanding African literature as well as feminism through personal accounts of her life.
