A View On The American Life In Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?

‘‘Where are you going, Where have you Been? Is set to be in suburban of America in the 1960s, a global change the sex change or rebellion, women lacked important or significant control over their lives. Author, Joyce Carol Oates, one can see how she views particularly on the American life as a situation of rape, and murder in the modern society. However, there are many themes found throughout the story, these themes is mainly focused on the antagonist which is been seen driving car and not women and these act which are seen to symbolize independence and control in American culture.

Arnold Friend whom is said to be in form of violence and control and its representation of both themes are critical and fully understanding the bigger picture (David).

Throughout ‘‘Where are you going, where have you been’’ Oates character Connie is a fifteen years old girl who rebels against her parents and begins to discover her sexiness as she grows up.

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The issue is that Connie rebels against her mother because she disapproves her of her habit. Connie who to hang out with Eddie and meet a Arnold whom later came to her house with his friend when no one was around and asked her that she should come in order for them to go for a ride, however she said no, and she’s into a dangerous situation. This is especially made because she does not what is going to happen. Connie is implied to have been raped or killed.

Since she was the only one at home and there was no means of her to get help. Oates show us how Arnold's friend was able to lure Connie out of the house and by using only his words and the strange sounds of the music which was playing in Connie’s house and also in his car much alike as Charles Schmid whom was known as ‘‘The piped Piper of Tucson’’ who killed several young teenage girls also lured them through his smooth way of talking (Shmoop Editorial Team). In 1966, when Oates wrote this story, there was little information about rape. Many people at that time blamed the raped victim, especially if it was an attractive woman, for acting or dressing what they called ‘Too sexy’’. Many women did not even report of being raped because they were too ashamed. In addition, ‘‘Me Too’’ movement is been defined as the movement that deals with specifically with sexual violence (Lagone). However, since then times have changed especially with the ‘‘Me Too’’ movement. Moreover, women are openly accusing the men who raped or molested them. In 1966, rape was thought to be only violent act where the rapist usually had a weapon.

Now rape can also include using too much pressure or power, such as a boss threatening job loss, or a boyfriend threatening to leave unless the woman submits. Now, as much alike as Connie who is preoccupied with her beauty and like to explore things, but she doesn’t have the experience that would help her know if something dangerous may happen to her one day. ‘‘Where are you going, where have you been'', ‘‘Connie paid so much attention to herself because she knew that she was so beautiful.’’(Dubon). Moreover, Oates view on the psychological aspect of young people as adolescents growing up there are moment where we tend to see ourselves transforming or changing from our childhood to the adulthood likewise Connie who wants to know how and what it is to be an adult. As one can see ‘‘Connie is more concerned about her beauty’’, (Dubon) trying to be on her own and there is an uncommunicative behavior, which are seen in her family that indicates that they do not really get along with each other. Presently, young teenagers wants to show how beautiful they are on Instagram or snap chat and also meeting people whom they don’t know and this is was also applicable to Connie and her life style or ways of living her life because she believes or thinks that experiencing adulthood would be nice thing to her sexuality. However, anything that one does on this planet has its own predicaments towards it. Independence, which was what Connie, was seeking for to be on her own and nobody to control her on what to do or what to put on.

Moreover, with the help of ‘‘Me Too’’ movement women are able to speak out or call out those who sexually abused or harassed them. Arnold friend who said to Connie you know that I am your lover and that he is going to get her, and she was scared. Some people are said to be scared because they may have threatened their lives if they try to speak about it. In order to be set free that Connie experiences in ‘‘Where Are you Going, Where have you Been’’ she was threatened by Arnold’s friend which I stated before and perhaps they won’t know what to do or have any other choice than to agree with the abuser. ‘‘According to the movement’s website #Me Too is about giving people a voice. The movement wants to a see a cultural transformation by “encouraging millions to speak out about sexual violence and harassment,” The site describes one of #Me Too’s motto’s as “empowerment through empathy,” because the founders believe it is crucial for survivors of sexual abuse to understand that they are not alone.’’ (Langone). Women needs to speak out if they do not they may be sexually abused or threatened again in some certain point of their lives. Tarana Burke created a nonprofit organization to help victims of sexual harassment and assault. (Garcia) Without the “Me too” movement women would not be able to stand up for what they have been going through. “Me too” movement gave women the power to speak out. Women cannot be in silence anymore because “Me Too” movement have given them the power to call out those who did the wrong things. Joyce Carol Oates view on how young adolescents are been abused raped or killed in which they go through. Connie is implied to have been killed or rapped probably she may have seen what it means to be an adult and to be independent on oneself. However, anything happens for a reason because when we tend to look towards or forward on what we have not reached up to, but we also forget that in anywhere or place that where are going always have an advantage and disadvantage on it.

In the end, this story comes out with different life lesson, and most of these lessons have to do with both good and evil. The manipulative of evil that is been shown opposing to the innocence of good. Moreover, I found this story very entertaining because the title of the story is relevant because in the beginning of the story we do not know what is going to happen to Connie, with the interesting ending part of it keeps anyone think of what happened to her.

Works cited

1. Oates, J. C. (1994). Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been? Rutgers University Press.
2. David, D. (2012). Sexual politics and feminist science fiction in the short stories of Margaret Atwood and Joyce Carol Oates. Postcolonial Text, 7(1), 1-15.
3. Shmoop Editorial Team. (2008). Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?: Themes. Shmoop University, Inc. Retrieved from https://www.shmoop.com/study-guides/literature/where-are-you-going-where-have-you-been/themes
4. Lagone, K. (2019). The #MeToo movement: Its history, significance, and implications for social workers. Social Work Today, 19(5), 16.
5. Dubon, R. (2020). Symbolism in Joyce Carol Oates’s ‘‘Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?’’. Medium. Retrieved from https://medium.com/@rudinadubon/symbolism-in-joyce-carol-oates-where-are-you-going-where-have-you-been-1a2426eb7040
6. Garcia, K. L. (2018). Speaking out: An analysis of the impact of the #MeToo movement on sexual assault survivors. The Journal of Gender, Race & Justice, 21(2), 461-483.
7. Langone, A. (2017). #MeToo movement. Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved from https://www.britannica.com/story/me-too-movement
8. Zimmerman, B. (2013). '‘Don’t You Know Who I Am?’: The Grotesque in Oates's '‘Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?’’'. Studies in Short Fiction, 50(2), 185-194.
9. Yeh, S. C. (2004). Arnold Friend's "Mask of a Face": "Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?" as Ironic Heroic Journey. The Centennial Review, 48(3), 263-287.
10. Beidler, P. G. (1988). “Don’t You Know Who I Am?”: The Grotesque in Oates’s “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?”. Studies in Short Fiction, 25(1), 33-39.