Britney Spears released her latest book, “The Woman in Me” on Wednesday, Oct 24. This new memoir details the star’s early life, rise to fame and succeeding breakdown which led to the controversial conservatorship that controlled her life for 13 years.
The 41-year-old pop star kicked off her singing career in 1993 when she starred on Disney’s “The Mickey Mouse Club’’ alongside many other well-known stars. According to Billboard, Britney Spears entered her conservatorship in February of 2008. This allowed for a court appointed person to make decisions on her behalf.
After a series of incidents which took place in the late 2000s, it was deemed that Spears was appointed to have someone else in control of her life.
According to an article by AP News, “Much of ‘The Woman in Me’ focuses on the father and sons, the husbands and boyfriends, who have dominated her life, for better and for worse. Several chapters are devoted to her relationship with Justin Timberlake.”
In her memoir, Spears recounts her years of being in the spotlight while peeling back layers of fame to expose the gossip.
Junior Brianna Taylor, an avid Britney Spears fan, said, “Growing up I loved listening to Britney on the radio. Her songs would come on in the car and I would always turn the sound up.” Throughout her lifetime, Spears has been nominated for eight Grammy Awards, six American Music Awards and 21 Billboard Music Awards. Spears also holds the title of being
the youngest artist to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Professor Bindig Yousman, Associate Dean of Academic Affairs for the College of Arts &
Sciences, said, “Besides her albums, Britney Spears was in a movie, she has her perfume lines,
she really became more than just a singer, and that’s why she hit at just the right time too.” Spears helped spark the teen pop phenomenon in the late 1990s, but her turbulent personal
life later brought her public criticism.
“When we think of Britney Spears, a lot of people want to think about ‘Baby One More
Time,’ or ‘Toxic,’ or the fun dance pop songs, and we don’t want to deal with the humanity of the person who was growing up in the spotlight,” said Bindig Yousman. “Young women’s bodies seemingly belong to the culture where people can ask about these private things that are none of their business.”
In her memoir, Spears touches base on freedom, fame, motherhood, survival, faith and hope.
“So many people look up to her and idolize her as a celebrity,” said Taylor. “Even though she has had some rough patches throughout her life, those patches should not define her as an artist. I think her memoir will help all of the people who prayed on her downfall understand the truth and understand that actions don’t define a person’s femininity.”
Spears has avoided all face-to-face interviews since 2018. With the conservatorship that controlled her life and career coming to an end in 2021, she has yet to show a significant media presence. While Spears can legally do as she pleases, she chooses to stay out of the spotlight when it comes to promoting her book.
“I do think we put young women in these very narrow constraints and so what Britney is trying to do is most likely a way for her to break those restraints and carve a new path for herself and frame herself in a new light,” said Bindig Yousman.
