The Woman in Me

Spears cites the #FreeBritney movement as an important factor in helping her restore her autonomy. Compare and contrast this movement to similar activism efforts spearheaded by fandoms (for example, the #FreeKesha movement that began in 2016) and discuss the influence of online communities.

The Woman in Me focuses heavily on Spears’s love for her two sons. How does her relationship to motherhood influence her behavior before, during, and after her conservatorship? Cite specific examples from the text to support your argument.

The relationship between Spears and her sister, Jamie Lynn, is contentious throughout the memoir. What connections can be made between Spears’s specific relationship with Jamie Lynn and the concept of sisterhood more broadly? Cite specific examples from the text to support your argument.

Spears’s journey to reclaim her personal freedom involves a reclamation of Music as a Source of Power. She notes that she hasn’t released the majority of the music she’s recorded post-conservatorship for public consumption. In what ways might keeping it private contribute to its ability to empower in the context of her larger struggle? Cite specific examples from the text to support your argument.

Consider the following quote: “I know that a lot of people don’t understand why I love taking pictures of myself naked or in new dresses. But I think if they’d been photographed by other people thousands of times, prodded and posed for other people’s approval, they’d understand that I get a lot of joy from posing the way I feel sexy and taking my own picture” (215-216). In what ways does the freedom of self-expression Spears finds on Instagram speak to The Pressures of Celebrity Status?

Spears’s memoir raises several important issues, including the treatment of young celebrities, the impact of media scrutiny and the commodification of celebrity images, and the potential for exploitation in conservatorships. Choose one of these issues and write an essay detailing what changes, if any, ought to be implemented to offer greater protection against abuse.

Celebrity memoirs can be controversial, especially when they include personal stories about children (like Spears’s sons). On the other hand, some critics have praised Spears for speaking up about her conservatorship. Write an essay discussing the line between exploitation and self-expression in celebrity memoirs in general and this memoir in particular.

Compare and contrast this memoir with another text that shares similar themes. Some options include I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy or Pageboy by Elliot Page.