by Joyce Carol Oates

Born in Lockport, New York, on June 16, 1938, Joyce Carol Oates published her first collection of short stories in 1963. She became noted for her portrayals of evil and violence in contemporary American society. "Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?" is one of her most discussed and examined pieces of work. The story, which deals with such troubling issues as sexuality, rape, and adolescence in American culture, has been the center of much feminist debate. Although the story takes place in an unspecified place and time, details in the plot indicate that the setting is an American suburb sometime during the late 1950s or early 1960s.

Events in History at the Time the Short Story Tahes Place

The age of rock 'n' roll. The period from 1954 to 1963 is considered to...