Frances Farmer and Britney Spears. Two women, decades apart, who found out exactly what happens when you're famous, female, and having a breakdown in public.

Today, from Victorian asylums to Instagram comments, we're talking about how easy it is to brand a woman "hysterical" or "crazy". And what are the consequences?

We explore the treatment of women once labelled difficult - from lobotomies, to hysterectomies and conservatorships and ask: have we really moved on from the days when the mentally ill were seen as entertainment?

Questions or Comments you’d like us to cover?

We love answering your questions and analysing the stories you’ve found. Send them to us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/s2tcpodcast

Enjoyed the show?

Leave us a 5-star review on Spotify and a review on Apple Podcasts - it really helps others discover the podcast.

--------------

Clips used in this episode:

Lobotomy scene from film - Frances (1982) 

Much Interview with Kurt Cobain (1993)

Britney Spears - Oops I did it again

References:

Kenneth Anger - Hotel Babylon (1972)

William Arnold - Shadowland (1982)

You Must Remember This Podcast: 

Episode 4 - (The printing of) the Legend of Frances Farmer. 

Episode 5 - The Lives, Deaths and Afterlives of Judy Garland.

Janet Frame - An Angel at my Table (1984)

The New York Times Presents: Framing Britney Spears (2021)

New Yorker article: Britney Spears Conservatorship Nightmare by Ronan Farrow & Jia Tolentino

Crime Analyst Podcast: Episode 29 - Who Framed Britney Spears? With Dr Jessica Taylor.

Dr Jessica Taylor - Sexy But Psycho: Uncovering the Psychiatric Labelling of Women and Girls

Kevin Federline - You Thought You Knew (2025)

Britney Spears - The Woman in Me (2023)

Selena Gomez: My Mind and Me documentary (2022)

Dr Jessica Taylor Talks About Stuff Podcast: Ep 2 - Medical and Social Model of Mental Health Part 2