Britney Meltdown VMA: A Tale of Emotional Labor and Redemption

In the early days of her career, Britney Spears was a poster child for the contradictory expectations placed upon women in our society. She built her fame on a persona that was perpetually smiling, sexy, and accommodating – a brand that seemed to satisfy every demand made of her. But by 2007, Spears had reached her breaking point. She went on an emotional labor strike, refusing to manage others' emotional needs while hiding her own.

Women are often judged on their ability to appear pleasant and accommodating, even when they're being mistreated. They face this expectation daily, from being told to 'smile' by strangers to getting accused of having 'resting bitch face' or being called 'crazy' for expressing emotions during a confrontation. Spears' situation was no exception. In the midst of an objectively awful time in her life, she was expected to put on a happy face and pretend that everything was fine.

Spears had every reason to be unhappy and stressed in 2007. She had just lost her baby son, and the media scrutiny surrounding her personal life was relentless. But instead of being allowed to process her emotions, she was expected to keep up the facade of a happy pop star. It's little wonder that her performance at the 2007 VMAs – which included a now-infamous 'meltdown' – was met with widespread criticism and ridicule.

Fast-forward almost a decade, and it seems that public opinion has shifted. Spears' performance at this year's VMAs was hailed as a comeback of sorts, a rebuttal to her lackluster showing nine years prior. The pop star took the stage once again, this time performing her hit single 'Make Me.' While some reviewers still managed to find fault in her performance – calling it a 'reeking, outrageous failure' – others praised her for finally taking back control of her stage.

The contrast between Spears' 2007 and 2016 performances is striking. Back then, she was seen as a has-been who couldn't even put on a decent show. But this year, she was celebrated for her bravery and resilience. The media narrative around Spears has shifted, from one of ridicule and scorn to one of admiration and empathy.

It's worth noting that the media's treatment of Spears in 2007 was particularly egregious. The New York Post called her performance 'a disastrous trainwreck' and MTV News referred to it as a 'catastrophic failure.' These kinds of headlines only served to further demonize Spears, making her feel like she was under attack from all sides.

In the end, Britney's 2016 VMAs performance was more than just a comeback – it was a testament to the power of emotional labor and the importance of taking back control. It showed that even in the midst of chaos and scrutiny, women can rise above their circumstances and reclaim their space. And as we look back on Spears' tumultuous career, it's clear that her 2007 'meltdown' was just a small part of a much larger story – one of resilience, redemption, and the ongoing struggle for women to be seen and heard in a society that often seeks to silence them.

Britney meltdown vma