Unlikely Captivities: The Narrative of Development in Jenna Miscavige Hill's Ex-Scientology Escape Narrative

Abstract:This article analyzes ex-Scientologist Jenna Miscavige Hill's 2013 memoir in terms of the genre of "Scientology escape narrative." It argues that this memoir adheres to what Grace Hong calls the "narrative of development," which shows how a white protagonist can overcome social expectations to realize the power of individuality, allowing them to become a fully self-possessed white liberal subject. Using Hong, critical race theory, and critical prison studies, this article demonstrates how this memoir shows "whiteness as property" in that a subject previously deemed abnormal via affiliation with Scientology is ultimately more legible to the U.S. state than individuals of color.