Analysis Of The Short Story 'Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been'

A Feminist Perspective The fight for gender equality has been ongoing since the late 1800s; however, this battle has been a tough one to win. From unequal pay to designated roles in society, women have had choices made for them for years on end by those that can not relate: men. Although women have made substantial progress in the fight for gender equality, there is still a long way to go. In the short story, “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been”, written by Joyce Carol Oates, the author criticizes the predestined roles for women in the 1960s and represents the stereotypical girl, Connie, and her inability to live a life for herself instead of impressing others and stand up for herself against predatory Arnold Friend. From the very beginning of the short story, Oates immediately criticizes the stereotypical role of a weak and dependent woman through the main character Connie. In a description of Connie’s actions outside of the house, Oates states, “With charm bracelets jingling on their thin wrists… She wore a pullover jersey blouse that looked one way when she was home and another way when she was away from home. Everything about her had two sides to it, one for home and one for anywhere that was not home” (2). The description of Connie is a clear cut depiction of how many women are viewed in a man’s …show more content…
Oates intended for this piece to provoke women to continue fighting against gender barriers to create a more equal society. Connie also serves as a warning to women on how conforming to gender roles can negatively affect one's life. All in all, Oates’ words, while written in 1960s, are just as important today as they were in the 20th century and women everywhere should continue to push for an equal and respectful playing field in the male dominated