Where Are You Going Everything Analysis

The Effects of Not Having a Stable Father-Figure

The lack of having an actual father figure caused Connie to grow up too fast. Connie’s father did not acknowledge her, nor did he care about her what she did. Eventually leading her to unknowingly soon then become rebellious and act older than her actual age. Being raised with no man to be or act as a father to her, and any young girl’s life in general, allows a much higher chance of being at risk for an attraction towards older men, premarital sexual acts, and
Disobedience.

“Women who grow up without fathers often struggle with feelings of low self-esteem and unworthiness.” (OWN) In this instance though it was a young lady who had been affected in the short-story, “Where Are You Going,
For example one night out with her friends she ended up tagging along with a boy whose name is Eddie, as they both walked towards his car a grown man spotted her, and that was the beginning of which led to her death. If only Connie’s father took the time to initiate a conversation with his daughters, the
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one-second “intimate” interaction with that man “in a convertible jalopy painted gold” (Oates) could've been prevented. With that being said it is crucial to know that “the role of (a) father is to teach his daughter how to be in a nonsexual, intimate relationship(s) with a man.” (OWN) To be taught and told by not just your parents, but from your father to avoid being involved with intimate relationships at an early age, then Connie’s fifteen year old insecurities would of been stable and she would've known her worth.

To be a lady and having a constant urge to attract any male (and or if you’re a man craving a lady’s attention; this does apply to both genders) near at a mile-radius during just your childhood years, not only displays a flaw in one’s self esteem and emotional security, but
With Connie’s constant negative behavioral patterns, displayed an obvious problematic stressor. Studies show that “teens growing up without a father are more susceptible to emotional distress.” (HubPages) Why? It all is due to the lack of having a father-figure in one’s life growing up. Father-figure meaning a man who actually takes hours out of his day or week to spend quality time with his children, and take part in their personal lives to provide advice or guidance. Her “father was away at work most the time and when he came home he wanted supper and he read the newspaper at supper and after supper he went to bed. He did bother much talking to” (Oates) either Connie or her sister June. There was never a genuine relationship that had been built from her father, and she scouted boys and older men to fill that empty space.
Without (her) a dad being supportive or father-figure in general for all kids, children tend to create an “intimidating persona in an attempt to disguise their underlying fears, resentments, anxieties and unhappiness.” (Psychology Today) Now when a child carries and holds such negative feelings and thoughts, they become selfish and will do what they choose to - the