No coming-of-age tale would be complete without a type of sexual awakening, and Go Ask Alice is no exception. Alice's sexuality evolves alongside her exploration of drugs and hippie culture, so we get to see her wide-eyed, innocent take on sex and love morph into casual prostitution, and then come back full circle to a kind of born-again virginity when she realizes she's never done the no-pants dance without the aid of some kind of drug. It's just what you'd expect from Alice as she tries to figure out who she wants to be in the world.
Questions About Sexuality and Sexual Identity
- How much does the hippie movement influence her take on sex and sexuality? Give examples to support your answer.
- Do you think Alice would have lost her virginity when she does if she hadn't taken drugs? Could peer-pressure have been enough? Why or why not?
- Alice's views on sex change significantly throughout the book, but in what ways do they stay the same?
Chew on This
Alice's sexuality and her drug addiction are inextricably linked, because she's never had sex without being under the influence.
Alice's insecurity and low self-esteem have as much to do with her sexuality as her drug abuse.