Where Are You Going

In the 1960s, when Oates wrote “Where Are You Going . . . ,” a social revolution was happening. American women were asserting their rights and independence from men, and they were claiming their sexuality in a way they had never done before. One frequently discussed topic was adolescence and the struggles and anxieties that many young girls endured as they lost their sexual innocence and became adult women. Feeling undervalued in their homes and relationships with men, women questioned their role in society and the role that sex and gender played in their lives. In “Where Are You Going . . . ,” Oates explores this social upheaval in miniature: Connie, one young woman out of a country of young women, must confront her own questions and anxieties as she transitions into adulthood. Her separation from her home and family is violent, and Arnold Friend is by no means a savior. But the sense of sweeping, dramatic change taking place in 1960s America is evident in this story, from the period details to Connie’s psychological terror at what lies ahead.

Anything in excess is harmful. The main character in "Where are you going, Where have you been?" Connie, had a surplus of self-confidence. This self-confidence leads to a false sense of security and a bad reputation. Connie also had an ample amount of bad choices. She would do her best to impress boys with her looks; eventually she impressed the wrong one. This short story by Joyce Carol Oates is a cautionary tale. We learn the most from stories when they have a bad ending. Through this story it is important for all girls to learn to be careful in the way they portray themselves, because the wrong attitude can lead you to the wrong person.

Connie was engulfed in the fact that she was beautiful. Most girls want to be attractive and noticed, but for Connie that was the only thing she had. I think that she based her confidence on her looks solely without factoring in things like personality or reputation. Since it was her