Ibsen is considered to be one of the most influential playwrights for developing the theatrical genre of realism. 'A Doll's House' looks at a woman who was flawed, and difficult, and often irritating, but one who is capable of making her own decisions, and wants to be an equal in her marriage and society. In Ibsen's own marriage, he wanted himself and his wife to be equal (which isn't that hard to believe, really).
He was met with a lot of criticism initially for encouraging women to leave their husbands and families - however, this is not, I believe, the message of the text. The play helps people find meaning in their lives, it's more about pursuing what you feel is the right thing than being about feminism. Nora is a woman because, I believe, this was the strongest way in which Ibsen could make his point. Of course, women and men should be equal, and this is emphasised in the text, but so is the need to be yourself, and find yourself, and it is this, not really the children or the marriage, that is the key concern in 'A Doll's House'.
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