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Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?

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The Treatment of Women in Literature Since the beginning of time, women have always been considered less than or inferior to men. Although, the treatment of women has improved tremendously and women are seeing more opportunities than ever before, we still have a long way to go. Until recently, the majority of published writers were men and the depiction of women in literature was mainly one sided. No matter what time period or culture, women in literature usually take the back seat to men. The once popular TV drama series, Twin Peaks, which was created in 1990, and Joyce Carol Oates’s short story “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?,” which was published in 1970, but was probably written in the 50s or 60s, are perfect examples of this. These two projects are roughly twenty years apart, yet the way women are treated and looked upon is the same. In both works, women start off strong and independent but in the end they are, what seems to be, punished for stepping away from normal female roles. …show more content…

She was the high school homecoming queen, she volunteered at Meals on Wheels, tutored students, and was the best friend anyone could wish for. However, Laura held many secrets. She was a cocaine user, a victim of child abuse, and briefly held at job at a brothel/casino called One Eyed Jack’s. She was officially in a relationship with the captain of the football team, but had many secret relationships with other men, both her age and older.
In “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been,” the main character, Connie also led a double life. At home she was a typical teenage daughter, only concerned with typical adolescent things. She was obsessed with her looks, friends, and boys, especially older men. When she was away from home she would explore her sexulaity. She would change the way she looked, walked, and even laughed to make her appear more sexually

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