Television release poster of “Framing Britney Spears”
A double media standard has always been established in society. An existing part of the system forces women to feel sorry for being “too sexy” but enables potential abusers to walk away with their “bad boy” persona.
The system, fortunately, is changing. Encouraged by advocacies and experience, women now are empowered to speak out and allies also offer their support. However, looking back in the past years, people humiliated a few promising and talented women influenced by the power of the media. One of them is Britney Spears.
The New York Times Presents: “Framing Britney Spears” was released in the U.S. on February 5, 2021 and is directed by Samantha Stark and produced by Jason Stallman, Sam Dolnick, and Stephanie Priess. The documentary is about the pop icon’s rough celebrity and personal life.
What was once laid off as a conspiracy theory, the #FreeBritney movement on social media has reached its target through the documentary— to tell people that this is happening to a woman.
In Los Angeles courthouse, the case involved conservatorship, a legal judgement that allows a person (Britney’s father, Jamie Spears) to handle the finances as well as daily life of another due to mental and physical limitations. Britney has been dealing with it for the former decade after her alleged “struggle” with mental health. The issue gained attention because she does seemingly fit into what a “conservatee” is usually assumed to look like.
Framing Britney Spears recognized the prevalence of misogynistic celebrity culture in society. It is like the tabloid scandals and gossip-worthy articles about famous girls, that the media exchanged on for money and audience. It is the obsession of society about young women who do not play by the rules, hypersexualisation of actresses, and attractive “jail bait” women. Media finds means to exploit women, make stories about them, and profit off of them.
Women are judged for their values, fashion, and sexuality. Other times, even for just being a woman— and men can easily do what they want to do.
Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake’s break up, her divorce from Kevin Federline, her paparazzi encounters, and her shaving her head are manifestations of how people judge women easily for simply trying to breathe on Earth.
Women, even celebrities, are more independent these times. The way to assure that they don’t fall for the same situation committed by previous generations, that what happened to Britney Spears does not happen again, is through acknowledgment of bad behaviors.
“Half of wisdom is learning what to unlearn.”
– Larry Niven
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