Teens Are Victim Of Pedophiles

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“Teens are Victims of Pedophiles” In the short story “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been,” by Joyce Carol Oates, the author describes a 15 year old pretty girl named Connie. Like many teens, Connie has the feeling that her family does not understand her and how everything she does is not good enough. She thinks she is older than she is but shows her immature side in the way she walks described as “childlike and bobbing” at home but once given the chance to go out with friends, she wants to be more grown-up. She wears “bright pink” lipstick to make herself appear more mature. Music is big part of her life and it is mentioned through-out the story. Most songs she listens to are about love, sex, and having a good time. This may be why so many teens including Connie put themselves in situations trying to relive the message in the music. Teenagers often feel they don’t get attention at home so go other places looking for it. For Connie, it was the local drive-in “where the older kids hung out.” Almost every city or rural area you can find at least one place where a crowd of young people are hanging out usually listening to music among other things. Unfortunately, this can also be a place that disturbed men pray on the innocence of the young. It is too often that there is a report of a missing teen which ends in their death being reported in the newspaper or on the local news. Arnold Friend is the deceitful man in this story. He wears “tight faded jeans” and uses trending slang trying to appear younger than he is to coax his young victim in his car. Oates described Connie’s reaction when Arnold Friend is in her driveway was not fear at first. Instead, she was intrigued by this stranger and even laughed when she read what was written on the smashed rear fender “done by crazy woman driver.” Teens in the 60’s and 70’s didn’t have
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