Connie, a typical fifthteen year old girl, possesses an impractical and infeasible understanding of identity and body image due to the pressures of society established by popular trends. In the short story, her mother admonishes her for “gawking at [her]self” and for “craning her neck to glance into mirrors.” Because of her societal surroundings, like TV, magazines, and music, that influence her to obsess on outward presentation, she highly values her appearance and as a result, she is scolded and criticized. Because Connie is preoccupied with trying to alter her image to coincide with people’s looks on TV and in magazines, she wrestles to find her true identity. Moreover, she constantly “check[s] other people’s faces to make sure her own [is]
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This can be seen when Connie and her friend get her father to drop them off at the shopping mall but once he drives away, they “[go] across the highway” to the restaurant “where older kids h[a]ng out.” Because of the constant conflict with her family and her yearning to fit in with the popular kids, Connie aspires independence and tries to achieve it by flouting her parents. Likewise, the neglect that she receives from her father who “[is] away at work most of the time” and “doesn’t bother talking much” leads her to seek attention from other boys. For instance, while Connie is at the drive-in restaurant, she leaves her friend to go "out into [Eddie's] car" and then park in an alley together. Due to her lack of acknowledgement at home, she rebels and disrespects herself in hopes of being appreciated.
As seen in “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been,” identity is shaped by environments. These elements are vital in understanding oneself and one’s relationship to the world. People have the choice to embrace their surroundings or reject them in order to achieve the full sense of who they
This can be seen when Connie and her friend get her father to drop them off at the shopping mall but once he drives away, they “[go] across the highway” to the restaurant “where older kids h[a]ng out.” Because of the constant conflict with her family and her yearning to fit in with the popular kids, Connie aspires independence and tries to achieve it by flouting her parents. Likewise, the neglect that she receives from her father who “[is] away at work most of the time” and “doesn’t bother talking much” leads her to seek attention from other boys. For instance, while Connie is at the drive-in restaurant, she leaves her friend to go "out into [Eddie's] car" and then park in an alley together. Due to her lack of acknowledgement at home, she rebels and disrespects herself in hopes of being appreciated.
As seen in “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been,” identity is shaped by environments. These elements are vital in understanding oneself and one’s relationship to the world. People have the choice to embrace their surroundings or reject them in order to achieve the full sense of who they