Since her emancipation on November 12th, 2021, we have seen an uprising of Britney’s personal voice splashed over social media platforms. Rightfully calling out everyone involved (ie; her mother, therapist, sister, Diane Sawyer, and fellow celebrities) that have either stood idly by or made her into a mockery over the years. In true Sagittarian form, she simply stopped giving a fuck and let the world know their wrongdoings. An overwhelming amount of support was shared from these IG posts as she did not tell a single lie!
But.. in recent weeks, the narrative has dangerously shifted as she starts to post her body more and more. Posts very much resemble “slut shaming” rhetoric and imply the downgrade of Women as a whole. Is she not exuding the freedom derived from your ideal self-expression? Self-expression and personal choice to share one’s body on social media is not a brand new concept. No one seems to bat an eye when heavily stylized photoshoots or music videos depicting a women’s body are presented to the masses.. but the very casual selfie she is known for immediately drags up a conversation.
However, this truly shouldn’t shock us. Womens’ bodies have historically been shamed unless it is useful for profit.
*Gestures emphatically to every single Britney music video ever*
Misogyny teaches people that our bodies aren’t actually ours and the moment we share it in the way WE want to, we’re “sluts”. That women “beyond a certain age” should be ashamed to love themselves and hideaway.
Both Madonna and Britney are yet again targeting as if they haven’t been catalysts of positive sexual expression their entire careers.. and still look incredible. Which is an irrelevant point as societal standards of beauty should not determine how one chooses to love themselves. Britney is reclaiming her body in every single way and people are angry.
The entire point of this movement was to fight for this woman’s freedom of choice. Not the freedom to tour, not to release another album, not to transition into a palatable version for the masses.. but for her FREEDOM. Yet the public has thrown her right back into the cycle of criticism because, in the end, women are expected to be under SOMEONE’s control. Public criticism is tantamount to a social conservatorship. Britney Spears still isn’t “free”.
It must be mentioned that 13 years under this type of treatment is severely traumatic. We don’t know what methods of healing she has chosen, nor is it any of our business. It’s not even our place to assume she even needs it. The narrative that her posting her body is cause for concern that she is mentally unwell only perpetuates the taboo society places on women. Comments stating she will be “placed back into a conservatorship” is not only idiotic but insulting to sex workers of all genders and simply that the idea of celebrating one’s body deems a person mentally unwell.
Currently, Spears has announced that she will be leaving her Thousand Oaks home of 6 years and will be looking for a new place, many have speculated that she may be leaving Los Angeles altogether. It has also been reported that she is in talks with Piers Morgan doing her first interview in years. Brittney Spear’s officially has deservingly turned her biggest tragedy in conservatorship into a new 15 million dollar book deal set to come out at an undisclosed date. Spears who was once viewed as mentally unfit or crazy has now regained control of her life and is now flourishing.
The thin veil of criticism only proved how much growth our society still needs and how no one, in the end, knows the full story.
