Where Are You Going Where Have You Been Stereotypes

Connie, the main character of “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been? ”, is a personification of both the stereotypical and actual depiction of rebellion. Many individuals feel that rebellion is an involuntary phase of the teenage years. She has a tendency to disobey the spoken and unspoken, yet implied, wishes of her parents. She reduces the likelihood of being caught in her mutinous acts by assuming a double life. Her clothes, attitudes, and actions all differ depending on where she is and who she is with. She is so submerged in her contumacious acts and achieving her thrills that she did not realize how she was portraying herself or the type of attention she commanded as a result of that portrayal. Ultimately, her self-portrayal and actions …show more content…
One’s self-portrayal is a display of their self-esteem. Others often use the level of self-esteem displayed to judge that person and build an idea of who they are. The idea may be inaccurate; however, if that person is not afforded the opportunity to interact with the portrayer so that they may discover their true personality, one’s true identity may be perceived as the depicted image. For example, due to her double personality, Connie may wear the same outfit in two different locations; however, the presentation of the outfit may vary depending on the environment and who surrounds her. The outfit would usually take a more conservative stance in the presence of her family members, while it may be shown in a more revealing or provocative light while she is with individuals closer to her age range. The story shows this in the passage that states “Everything about her had two sides to it, one for home and one for anywhere that was not home” (Oates Page 899). Due to the level of