Children as Commodities in the American Suburban Home: Joyce Carol Oates's Adaptation of the Ramsey Case in "My Sister, My Love"

Abstract

Joyce Carol Oates's My Sister, My Love is a fictional memoir inspired by the unsolved murder of JonBenét Ramsey. The novel, told from the perspective of the victim's brother, satirizes the exploitation of children in beauty pageants and the superficiality of suburban life. Through a counter-memory narrative, Oates sheds light on the hidden abuse endured by children, revealing the dark underbelly of a seemingly perfect family. The novel serves as a powerful critique of societal pressures and the devastating consequences for young victims.

Keywords

• joyce carol oates
• children exploitation
• ramsey case
• american suburbs