artificial insemination kit for humans
The iconic pigtail braids adorned with fluffy pink pom-poms and tiny hot pink ribbons at the ends. Strands of hair escaping, reminiscent of youthful innocence. Dressed in a Catholic schoolgirl outfit, tailored to highlight the barely adolescent features of a girl just shy of adulthood. The white shirt, unbuttoned to reveal her bra, tied at the waist to flaunt her flat tummy. Knee-high socks completing the look.
Britney Spears’ “…Baby One More Time” music video depicts a high school girl trying to embody a more mature version of herself while simultaneously emphasizing her childlike qualities. I was a college sophomore when it premiered, and I was furious the instant I viewed it. The layers of implied ages—an adolescent girl striving to appear older, yet accentuating her youthful traits—infuriated me.
“My loneliness is killing me,” sings a 16-year-old Britney with wide, longing eyes. The camera captures her vulnerability, framing her in a way that conveys her smallness and innocence. It evokes a need for someone to alleviate her loneliness.
At the height of her fame, Britney’s image screamed of exploitation. She posed with a child’s bike, her back to the camera, wearing tiny shorts with “baby” spelled out in rhinestones. Looking over her shoulder, she exuded an unsettling allure, grasping the bike’s pink handlebars. On the cover of Rolling Stone, she embraced a Teletubby while wearing a seductive outfit designed to appeal to adult audiences.
I despised Britney Spears for this.