“Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” by Joyce Carol Oates

Being a teenager is not a simple task, as some adults who refuse to understand it may believe. Teens often have a unique perspective on reality and worldview. Young people have an entirely new outlook on life, hence, they need to receive the most attention from their family members during this critical period. Unfortunately, not all parents are capable of doing so, and as a result, when these children reach adulthood, they are confused and lost in the world of reality. “Where are you going, Where Have You Been?” by Carol Oates gives an excellent example of a regular fifteen-year-old girl, Connie, and the life that surrounds her. Regarding the article by Korb, my understanding of the story is that parental-daughter relationships are essential for development and wellbeing.

The quality of a parental-daughter relationship impacts how the daughter develops psychologically and socially and improves self-esteem and well-being. Korb asserts that “Connie’s parents, though they appear quite typical, provide no moral guidance. Her mother is not concerned with Connie’s habits and lifestyle but argues with her daughter” (Korb 2). Connie distances her life from home by always avoiding a demanding and unhappy mother and her uncaring father. Connie’s emotionally unstable environment encourages her to act rashly, without regard for her future or personal welfare. Connie, behind her parents’ backs, frequents places where older men congregate and occasionally goes out with them. Connie has no fear or feeling of risk when she lives her carefree and sometimes reckless lifestyle. In essence, this has much to teach everyone, especially parents and teenagers. Even though it was written years ago, this is a real narrative of what goes on in the brains and lives of today’s youth. Overall, when children do not receive the proper attention and acceptance when they most need it, the parents are to blame.

Work Cited

Korb, Rena. “An Overview of Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” Gale, 2002.