illustration of a young girl, Connie, reflected in the sunglasses of a man, Arnold Friend

Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?

by Joyce Carol Oates

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Historical Context

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The Women's Movement

During the early years of Oates's career, the topic of women's equal rights generated significant controversy, leading up to the release of "Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?" The women's movement gained momentum in the 1960s and early 1970s. Economic changes led to more women working outside the home, and Congress passed the Equal Rights Amendment, sparking numerous political battles during its lengthy ratification process, which ultimately failed. Many men and women began to reevaluate the traditional power dynamics in their relationships, families, and workplaces. The Equal Pay Act of 1963 made it illegal to pay different wages to men and women for the same job. In 1973, the Supreme Court's decision in Roe v. Wade established that a woman's right to privacy allowed for legal abortion during the first trimester of pregnancy.

While gender relations had always been a recurring theme in literature, the 1960s saw an increase in works highlighting the oppression of women in a male-dominated society. Oates is among the writers who focus on the psychological and cultural mechanisms that foster conflict, and even violence, between men and women. Critics often interpret ''Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?'' as a story with feminist themes, where Oates examines the societal pressures on young women to equate their self-worth with physical attractiveness. Additionally, she illustrates how men can emotionally manipulate women and pose a genuine, physical threat by exploiting their misguided perceptions of self-worth.

A Transforming American Society

Other significant changes in American culture serve as a backdrop to Oates's story. Oates is frequently commended for her almost photographic depictions of the social environment in which her fiction is set. "Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?'' is no exception; within its brief pages, readers can discern numerous factors influencing America in the late 1960s, especially those affecting young people. These factors include the rapid expansion of American suburbs, leading to a loss of community cohesion; shifts in family dynamics, as seen in Connie's permissive mother and a father who "didn't bother talking much" to his family; increased sexual permissiveness; and a youth subculture that defined itself through music and other popular art forms.

The Youth Subculture

Young Americans increasingly doubted that the American dream their parents had cherished was either achievable or desirable. The post-World War II baby boom generation had transformed the nation and began to voice their opinions on political and social matters. Disagreement over the United States' involvement in the Vietnam War intensified intergenerational conflict, with anti-war sentiment among youth peaking in the late 1960s. In Chicago, hundreds of anti-war protesters demonstrated at the 1968 Democratic National Convention, where many were beaten by police. Over 250,000 people gathered in November 1969 for a march on the nation's capital to express their opposition to the war. Tensions escalated so much that many college campuses shut down early in the spring of 1970 to prevent further turmoil after four students were shot and killed by National Guard members during an anti-war rally at Ohio's Kent State University.

This atmosphere of protest and disillusionment, combined with the energy and idealism that often fueled it, permeated the music of the era. Many songs glorified drugs and sex. Multi-act music festivals like Woodstock gave young people a chance to gather en masse and promote peace and love through "turning on, tuning in, and dropping out." Critics analyzing Oates's references to popular music in "Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?" often disagree on their interpretations. However, many note that the music the characters in the story listen to closely resembles the style that was popular just before Oates wrote the story in 1966. Expectations of innocent romance partly blind Connie to Arnold's true intentions, and Arnold uses phrases reminiscent of popular romantic songs. Therefore, critics frequently argue that Oates supports the shift from music that avoids reality to music that confronts it. This endorsement is highlighted by her dedication of the story to Bob Dylan, who for many symbolized the spirit of political awareness in music.

Expert Q&A

How has Connie's culture shaped her worldview and made her an easy target for Arnold Friend?

Connie's culture, marked by her vanity and societal expectations, shapes her worldview and makes her vulnerable to Arnold Friend. As a typical American teenager in that era, she is focused on boys, music, and her appearance, which makes her susceptible to flattery. Her naive nature and lack of initial distrust towards Arnold make her an easy target. The societal expectation for women to be naive and trusting due to limited exposure also contributes to her vulnerability.

Since Oates' 1966 story "Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?", which aspects of teenage culture have changed or remained?

Aspects of teenage culture which have changed since Oates wrote "Where are You Going, Where Have You Been?" include the tendency to visit drive-in theaters and to spend time looking at themselves in the mirror rather than taking selfies or videos.

Social Sensitivity

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Interest in women's equal rights sparked significant debate during the early years of Oates's career, particularly around the time she wrote "Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?" The 1960s and early 1970s saw the rise of the women's movement. Economic changes led to more women working outside the home, and the Equal Rights Amendment was passed by Congress, igniting numerous political battles during its lengthy and ultimately unsuccessful ratification process. Both men and women began to reevaluate the traditional power dynamics in their relationships, families, and workplaces. The Equal Pay Act of 1963 made it illegal to pay men and women different wages for the same job. In 1973, the Supreme Court's decision in Roe v. Wade affirmed a woman's right to privacy, allowing legal abortions in the first trimester of pregnancy. While gender relations had long been a topic in literature, the 1960s saw an increase in works highlighting women's oppression by a male-dominated society. Oates is among the writers who have focused on the psychological and cultural factors that foster conflict and even violence between men and women. "Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?" is frequently interpreted by critics as a story with feminist themes, as it explores the societal pressures on young women to equate their self-worth with physical beauty. Additionally, Oates illustrates how men can emotionally manipulate women and pose real, physical threats by exploiting their misguided sense of self-worth.

Young Americans increasingly doubted whether the American dream their parents cherished was either achievable or desirable. The post-World War II baby-boom generation had transformed the nation's landscape, leading to more voices being raised on political and social issues. The Vietnam War further intensified generational conflicts, with anti-war sentiment among young people peaking in the late 1960s. In Chicago, hundreds of antiwar demonstrators clashed with police at the 1968 Democratic National Convention, resulting in many being beaten. Over 250,000 people marched on the nation's capital in November 1969 to express their opposition to the war. Many college campuses shut down early in the spring of 1970 to prevent further unrest after National Guard members shot and killed four students during an antiwar rally at Ohio's Kent State University. This atmosphere of protest and disillusionment, coupled with the energy and idealism that often fueled it, permeated the era's music. Numerous songs glorified drugs and sex, and multi-act music festivals like Woodstock provided a venue for young people to gather in large numbers and advocate for peace and love.

Critics who have tried to interpret Oates's references to popular music in "Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?" often disagree on their meanings. Nonetheless, many note that the music enjoyed by the characters closely resembles the style that was popular shortly before Oates wrote the story in 1966. The anticipation of innocent romance partly blinds Connie to Arnold's true intentions, and Arnold uses phrases that echo popular romantic songs. Consequently, critics frequently argue that Oates supports the transition from music that ignores reality to music that confronts it. This support is indicated by her dedication of the story to Bob Dylan, who, for many, represented the spirit of political awareness in music.

Compare and Contrast

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1970: According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 87 percent of American households are led by married couples.

1990s: Due to a rising divorce rate, an increase in births outside of marriage, and a higher average age for marriage, the percentage of two-parent families falls to 55 percent by 1990.

1970: During this year, 37,990 cases of rape are reported in the United States.

1990s: In 1992, the number of reported rapes climbs to 109,060. This figure, nearly three times higher than in 1970, is somewhat mitigated by a 28 percent increase in the nation's population over the same period.

1970: In 1970, 89.3 percent of children in the U.S. are born to married parents. There is significant social stigma attached to having children out of wedlock. Some critics believe that when Connie's mother asks, ''What's this about the Pettinger girl?," she might be referring to a rumor that one of Connie's classmates is pregnant.

1990s: By 1991, the proportion of children born to married parents drops to 70 percent.

1970: The median age of U.S. citizens is 28, down from 30 in 1950, due to the post-World War II baby boom.

1990s: In 1990, the median age in the United States rises to 33, as birth rates decline and life expectancy increases thanks to advancements in healthcare. This median age is expected to reach 39 by 2010.

1970: Records from 1970 indicate that 1,900 white females per 100,000 are victims of murder, with black females having a slightly lower rate.

1990s: By 1991, the murder rate for females increases to 3,200 per 100,000. The most significant rise in murder rates is among black females, increasing from 1,400 to 2,400 per 100,000 since 1970.

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