The star details in her memoir how the constant public scrutiny of her body and physical appearance, being valued for her sexuality and treated as a commodity have characterised her entire life.
Like many before her, Spears was ushered into the dangerous terrain of childhood fame by the adults who were supposed to be protecting her, and was utterly unprepared to deal with the fallout.Britney Spears’ new memoir, The Woman in Me, illustrates once again the potential lifelong damage that can be caused by being a child star.
The boundaries and rules around what is and is not acceptable during childhood, and the normal activities and institutions that shape the experience of being a child have developed over the centuries for a reason – to try and keep children safe from the harsh realities of the adult world. Sad stories of drug and alcohol addiction, family disputes, criminal activity and toxic relationships are frequently reported by the media. These reinforce the stereotypical “child star gone bad” and “too much too young” narratives that the wider public has come to expect.
There is also the tragic life and death of Gary Coleman, cute kid star of the American sitcom Diff'rent Strokes . Even so, Brown commented on her 16th birthday that: “There are moments I get frustrated from the inaccuracy, inappropriate comments, sexualization, and unnecessary insults.” "I knew a lot of guys thought long hair was hot. Shaving my head was a way of saying to the world: f*** you. You want me to be pretty for you? F*** you. You want me to be good for you? F*** you. You want me to be your dream girl? F*** you."
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