Insecurity and Ignorance Essay

Grasping the idea of sexual assault and rape ignore be a difficult task. We know of it within our world, but it may not effect us in our let lives. Vulnerability is a more comprehensible feeling. Many girls virtually the world r kayoed out worry the constant comparison between themselves and others, their take away for watchfulness, and insecurity. In Joyce Carol Oats Where are You Going, Where Have You Been? , the main character, Connie, displays these feelings through her subconscious thoughts and mindless actions. Her longing for realisation leads to the extremely unfortunate event, meeting Arnold Friend.Connies low self-esteem, constant need for male financial aid, and lack of judg ment force her to be helpless to the manipulative people she attracts. Connies insecurity shells her to constantly desire for male attention. She systematic on the whole in ally daydreams rough the boys she has been with, Her mind slipped over onto thoughts of the boy she had been with t he night before. (365) Even as Connie goes through her normal, relaxing day, her mind subconsciously slips to thoughts of boys. This shows her obsession, desiring more from the males with whom she interacts.Connies costume also displays her low self-esteem, when talking about Connies two unalike appearances She wore a pullover jersey blouse that looked one way at place and another way when she was away from home. (362) Connies need for male attention causes her to dress in an inappropriate way, that she cannot show at home. She lost all self-respect, allowing herself to dress in a way to fulfill her minds desires. Because of the way she dresses, males treat her as they would someone much senior(a), who dresses in the selfsame(prenominal) way.Connies low self-esteem causes her to think that being pretty is all that matters, She knew she was pretty and that was everything. (361) Connie believes she is pretty and that she is better than anyone else because of that. Her world revo lves around boys, and she thinks that all men care about is how pretty women appear, therefore being pretty is everything. The actions and thoughts of Connie cause her to shake off little self-respect in a world that revolves around males. Connies attitude and action towards males does not attract her the kind of attention she desires.Her mother tends to get angry with Connie for her arrogance. When Connie explains her mothers preference for her older sister, June, she said, If Connies name was mentioned it was disapproving. (364). In Connies mind, the importance of the boys in her vivification is much greater than the importance of family. Spending nights at the drive-in restaurant, a popular hangout spot, Connie attracts the attention of older boys. This is what she intends to happen, but she is unaware of how this can lead to trouble. Older boys treat Connie as they would a girl their own age.This pressures Connie into doing things she would not normally do with someone as you ng as herself. In addition to the pressure from older boys, her actions by dangling out at the drive-in put her in danger. When Connie was with a boy at the drive-in restaurant, she caught the eye of a man who would prove dangerous He wagged a finger and laughed and said, Gonna get you, baby. (363-364) Connie does not know at the conviction that she was attracting danger. Connie is naive of the world around her, acting without thinking about the affects these decisions could have on her life.Through flirtatious acts and her attitude, Connie attracted a raper, from whom she was unable to escape. By hanging out at the drive-in restaurant, flirting with older boys, and wearing intriguing clothing Connie attracted the attention of the creepy Arnold Friend, whose intentions can be inferred from the story. When Arnold first pulls up to Connies house, and they officially meet for the first sentence, Connie instantly thinks about his thought on her She couldnt decide if she liked him or if he was a jerk. (367). Connie did not find this abrupt encounter with Arnold strange, because he showed up at her house and knew about her.She first thinks about whether she liked him or not. She is unmindful to the danger of strangers, only thinking about if he is worth her flirting. erst Connie fell into Arnolds trap, she is unable to escape She thought for the first time in her life that is was nothing that was hers, that belonged to her, but just a pounding, nutrition thing inside this body that wasnt really hers either. (377). She no time-consuming had control of herself or of her fate. Everything lies in the hands of Arnold Friend. A potential rapist easily takes advantage of Connie, because of her vulnerability, longing for male acknowledgement, and not thinking about her actions. Connies whole world is centered around boys, consistently in her thoughts, which influence her actions. As a result, Connies daydreams of being with boys turned into nightmares of reality.