How I Learned to Drive

I learned to drive when I was sixteen, and had no sexual issues surrounding those lessons. This was not the case with Li'l Bits. Even more so the historical context of the play makes sexuality an even more prominent issue. The coming of age of the baby boomers lead to extensive societal changes from mid sets, to laws and cultural norms. Sexuality was one of the issues that changed in the 1960s and 70s. The push for women's rights lead to more divorce and speaking up about sexual abuse, both current and in the past. This trend continued throughout the latter half of the twentieth century as the negative connotations with being abused began to wane and people were encouraged to share their troubled pasts. How I Learned to Drive goes a great job of shedding light on these issues with out having Li'l Bits and Peck actually sleeping together. Similar to the environment that Churchill created in Top Girls, Paula Vogel is able to bring up controversial issues in a way that the audience can focus on them with out hating, or associating them with a specific character in a way that prohibits the audience from looking at them objectively. Vogel does a phenomenal job with the character Peck, making him the scape goat for sexual abuse, yet still forcing the audience to side with him as he stands up for and supports Li'l Bits.