Disclaimer: I acknowledge that I am not the ideal
commentator on this topic, being a cisgendered, heterosexual, middle-class
white woman. I don’t often talk about these matters for fear that I will offend
and/or upset someone. But as I think of this blog as my space to express –
amongst other things – my personal opinion, I decided that I would give it a
go. Like most people, I am not perfect, and if anything I’ve said does trouble
you, please let me know in a kind and respectful manner. To that end, I use
male pronouns when talking about (the now-eradicated) Bruce Jenner, and switch
when I start to discuss the post-transition woman Caitlyn Jenner.
So after years of speculation – accelerated especially
within the last few months, since his divorce from Kris Jenner – an exclusive
interview with Diane Sawyer, and a two-part Keeping
Up With the Kardashians special, Vanity
Fair today released shots of Bruce Jenner that will form the core of their
next issue. These photos are the first that show Jenner as she will now be
known: as Caitlyn Jenner. That is her chosen female name, and it is now clear
that she has undergone gender-reassignment surgery. On the cover, Caitlyn
perches on a stool, her arms behind her back and her curly hair falling over
her – yes, still broad – shoulders as her eyes stare into the camera in a way
that turns her closed mouth into a slip of a smile.
The
internet – as ever, excitable as a toddler full to the brim with Haribo and
coffee – is, understandably, in commotion. Indeed, many comment that this is
far more worthy of the title “break the internet” than Jenner’s step-daughter
Kim Kardashian’s Paper magazine cover
released at the end of last year. At a glance, the reactions can be split into
the two usual camps: agree and (ugh) disagree. Leaving aside those despicable,
pitiable people that make up the disagree side, I want to focus on some of those
who – outwardly, at least – appear to be supportive.
Amongst the
reams of (positive) people exclaiming “I can’t believe it”, “good for [her]”
and “no way”-ing, there are those who refer to Caitlyn as Bruce, or use male
pronouns. From what I can gather, little to none of these people harbour
malicious intent. But still they are pounced on by seeming do-gooders who
condescendingly call others out for their “disrespect” and “ignorance”
regarding LGBTQIA rights. And, just like that, another news story that should
unite people in celebration is broken down by petty bitching. I am not one to
condone ignorance, but I am also not an idealist. Unfortunately, things such as
gender identity disorder (or whatever you wish to call it) are still relatively
new concepts in a world that contains people born when being gay was illegal.
That doesn’t make a lack of understanding surrounding Jenner’s situation right, but it does explain why some
haven’t yet gotten to grips with all of the correct language.
And therein lies the beauty of
Jenner’s extremely public transformation. Depending on your level of scepticism
re. the Kardashian fame-machine (I try to keep mine high but watching KUWTK religiously doesn’t exactly help
with this), you may think that Jenner is only doing this out in the open in order
to garner some publicity for either himself, his family, or both. But, for
once, let’s be optimistic and believe that she has been motivated by a desire
to let everyone else going through similar issues the support that they may not
be finding anywhere else. Actions like the Vanity
Fair cover facilitate conversations that will lead to the exact same people
currently – and confusedly – calling Caitlyn “Bruce”, and her “him”, one day
bringing their own children up with an (ever-expanding) comprehension of gender
dysphoria. As they wish “him” the best, is it really appropriate to lay into them
for not addressing her as they have been – as he himself has been – for the
last sixty-five years? People discussing Caitlyn Jenner and her transformation
are probably feeling similar to how she has for a while – although perhaps not
to the same extent – confused, curious, and disorientated. And while we must
respect Caitlyn and give her the time to adjust, so must we act with patience
towards those who are, yes technically,
wrong, but – most importantly – willing to learn.
Another special corner of the
internet seems to have embraced today’s news as a way to continue its favourite
hobby: abusing the Kardashians as a whole. “The fact that [Caitlyn] spelled
her name with a "C" and not a "K" gives me so much life”
crowed one Twitter user; another described it as “the biggest ‘fuck you’ to the
Kardashians ever”. Yet more have determined it as “bigger news than Kim being
pregnant again” (which was officially confirmed last night). All of this leaves
me somewhat bemused. Is Caitlyn’s transformation about the Kardashians? Is it
about Kim and her (completely innocent) foetus? No. Those who insist on
incorporating these elements are doing a disservice to the cause that they think
they are celebrating (often within the same tweet). If I wanted to drop down to
that level, I could say that Caitlyn may – like me – just prefer the look of a
C at the start of her name, as opposed to a K. She may not want to share
initials with her nineteen-year-old daughter. She may want to encourage the
assignation of the awesome nickname “CJ” for herself.
But I don’t want to go there, because I would like to stay on the level
that heralds Caitlyn’s bravery as a huge stepping stone for the transgender
community, and the millions of other people out there who feel uncomfortable in
their skin. That acknowledges this isn’t the end of transgender discrimination,
but is progress in the right
direction. That doesn’t reject Jenner’s problematic elements (her access to
money for treatment, her lack of vulnerability having been a white male, etc.)
but observes the possibilities that come from a high-profile public figure
sharing this journey with the world.
The western world is a scary,
overwhelming, bemusing thing. It might seem like I’m attacking people who are
just trying to do the right thing, but I don’t mean it to be so. I am just
tiring of seeing everything – and everyone – met with such crushing negativity;
as someone suffering from depression, I battle enough of that within my own
head everyday. “Supporting” Caitlyn Jenner doesn’t alleviate you from
unnecessarily hating on the Kardashians, and it definitely doesn’t make you
better than those who use the incorrect pronoun but the correct intention. It
diminishes the topic at hand: transgender activism, as well as – to quote the
wonderful Ellen Page – “the simple fact that this world would be a whole lot
better if we just made an effort to be less horrible to one another”.
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