Recently, I watched the hour-long episode titled “Framing Britney Spears” by the New York Times on Hulu. I have never really been a huge fan of Britney Spears, but not because I don’t like her. I grew up listening to other types of music, but of course I knew who she was. Britney Spears was and remains to be a pop icon.
The conclusion I was able to reach after watching the episode is that much of what was done to Britney Spears even from a young age, would not have been done to a man. One of the moments throughout the episode that made me feel disgusted was when young Britney Spears was asked by a man if she had a boyfriend. Britney responded by saying that boys were mean, to which the man says “I’m not mean. What about me?”
This is such an inappropriate question to ask a child. There were so many other questions that could have been asked to her. Throughout Britney’s career, she was always being sexualized by men who would interview her.
Another moment I recall being particularly upset about is when she was a teen and a man interviewing her said that he had a question about her breasts. Again, this question and type of commentary is completely uncalled for. Britney Spears was so talented that there were so many other questions that could have been asked.
Once Britney started to dress the way she wanted, people kept sexualizing her either way. It didn’t really matter what she did or what she wore. People expected Britney to be this innocent girl, yet all the while they had been sexualizing her.
Another thing I had learned throughout the episode was that in 2008, Jamie Spears who is Britney’s father, was appointed as her co-conservator along with Andrew Wallet who was a lawyer. This decision came to be after Britney experienced a mental breakdown in 2007. Britney Spears was dealing with a custody battle for her two children and also had the media constantly swarming her anytime she stepped outside her home.
When someone becomes a conservatee, like Britney is, that means someone else is put in charge of all their finances, health decisions, business deals, and even personal life decisions. Since 2008, Jamie Spears has been the conservator of Britney, but this is being battled in court.
Britney Spears has expressed how she does not want her father to be the conservator, and would prefer a bank to be in charge of all her finances. Britney Spears has even decided that she will not work so long as her father remains the conservator.
It is important to note that Britney and her father have never really had a great relationship. Jamie Spears was absent in a lot of Britney’s life, so it is odd that he would be appointed the conservator. I believe that if she had a conservator, it should have been someone she trusted and had a good relationship with.
The “Free Britney” movement wants for Britney to regain full control of her life. I believe that she should have full control since she seems to be in good mental state and it has been twelve years since her father became the conservator. More importantly, Britney has expressed that she wants to end the conservatorship.
I sincerely hope Britney Spears is able to regain control of her life. If she ever chooses to return to the stage, I am sure everyone will welcome her with open arms. I also hope she is able to share her story with all of us someday.