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A review by jdieperink
The Woman in Me by Britney Spears
challenging
emotional
fast-paced
I’ll be honest, I don’t know how to rate this book. It was moving and disturbing and, at times repetitive. But every time I would start to check out, she’d pull me back in and I’d end up crying on public transit (I don’t recommend listening to the part where she finds out about the #freebritney movement while on the train).
I do recommend the audiobook version, what Michelle Williams does is not overhyped. I kept forgetting someone else was doing the narration.
There were elements of it that read to me like when conservative (lower case c conservative or upper case C, Britney Spears doesn’t get into politics) white woman pick up surface pieces of feminism for relatability but also, she’s not claiming to be a scholar.
It’s a good reminder that the practice of locking up “hysterical” women is not actually a relic of the past and is alive and well. It’s also a good reminder to read some more about disability justice.
I do recommend the audiobook version, what Michelle Williams does is not overhyped. I kept forgetting someone else was doing the narration.
There were elements of it that read to me like when conservative (lower case c conservative or upper case C, Britney Spears doesn’t get into politics) white woman pick up surface pieces of feminism for relatability but also, she’s not claiming to be a scholar.
It’s a good reminder that the practice of locking up “hysterical” women is not actually a relic of the past and is alive and well. It’s also a good reminder to read some more about disability justice.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Forced institutionalization, Medical trauma, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Eating disorder, Miscarriage, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, and Abortion