Caitlyn Jenner: My Thoughts

Everywhere you turn these days, the Kardashian family are making headlines and their ever-expanding empire shows no signs of slowing down. Maybe it's because we've entered into an era where 'fame' has far less to do with real merit or genuine talent and far more to do with tabloid scandal and reality television series. Maybe it's because humanity has gradually peaked and this is what we are left with. I've never been a huge lover of their glorified brand, but I've never been a hater either, it has always been a case of indifference for me until recently when Caitlyn Jenner entered the public eye.

There's probably a few people reading this thinking I'm just a sell out, jumping on the bandwagon of the latest hot topic to get views and readers but Caitlyn and her story is no longer news, this has been happening for some time now, with the Vanity Fair cover, the Diane Sawyer television interview and the awards speech, this revelation has been going on for months.

( Photo via Superfame.com )

Biologically we are all assigned a certain sex at birth, that's something we have zero control over but that does not mean you identify with that particular gender. This post is not going to delve much deeper into the nitty gritty essentials than that. Mainly because I spoke briefly about this before. What I intend to write about is that although the public's response has been largely positive and accepting, it has bothered me how insensitive and analytical some have become when discussing Caitlyn's appearance and more importantly, her body.

Negative body image of women has always been strong in the media, unfortunately that doesn't look likely to change any time soon. Feminine beauty and what a person should or could look like in marketing and advertising in particular is a controversial issue and a huge problem, Caitlyn was never going to escape it. But name one other female celebrity that has to endure constant scrutinisation and speculation over her genitalia and her most personal body parts? And worse for people to find they're perfectly entitled to enquire and question it.

It's this trans objectification that I really dislike. This is someone's private information and I don't see why it's anybody's right to talk about. Why should you or anyone care what these men and women do to their genitalia? I was in McDonald's the other day and two teenage girls were loudly discussing graphically the bodily transitioning she's likely to have encountered for the whole restaurant to hear. People are obsessed with the physical process and aspect of the transition, fixated almost. Your anatomy has very little to do with your gender identity. Viewing the trans community as objects, freak shows, walking science experiments and not real people with personalities and feelings is heartless and insensitive. Every human being deserves respect and their personal privacy, no matter how famous they are. 

( Photo via YouTube.com )

I get that understanding something paves the way for acceptance but this angle people tend to be focussing on is only a small, small part of a person's transition, and with all the unemployment, suicides, homelessness, that particular community experience there's so much more meaningful issues to talk about. 

We need to move towards acceptance of females with male genitals and males with female genitals, instead of seeing all these surgeries as the answer. Perhaps a lot of gender dysphoria is more of a reaction to society's gender binary than anything else. A woman can have a penis and vice versa.

Don't misinterpret me, I firmly believe people have every right to alter their bodies as they please. Especially if doing so will improve their psychological well-being and self-esteem. I do not and will not agree with any movement that denounces people for this. What I am against is the insistence that in order to be a true woman you have to do hormone therapy and undergo sex reassignment surgery. You can be a woman either way. Everyone is an autonomous human being. I realise that sounds extremely obnoxious coming from a twenty-two year old man, but it's my opinion nonetheless.

We need to change laws in many places that specifically require that surgery to actually legally be that gender. Your mind, your brain tells you what you are. There are many people in the trans community that have no desire for SRS. You have the right to your own body, so if the surgery doesn't suit certain individuals, it doesn't suit them, case closed.

( Photo via Insideedition.com ) 

Lastly, there's been the issue labelling Caitlyn a hero. Obviously people who fight on the front line are heroes and there's no denying that but it's important to note heroes come in many shapes and forms. A mother can be a hero, a cancer survivor can be a hero, a kid who sits and talks to a lonely class-mate in the canteen is probably a hero, a singer-songwriter who makes a girl with depression realise that things will get better is a hero. The title is subjective, everyone is inspired and empowered differently.

Her courageous story reminds people that it's never too late to become who you truly are, and that's pretty damn heroic to me. With everything she's gone through she's proven that you have only got one life to live, and how important it is to make sure it's the best one for you. Imagine all the young transgender boys and girls currently suffering that she's providing hope for? Overcoming all this widespread judgement and ignorance is doing a lot of good. Her bravery to face the world and its criticism is saving lives, that is a fact, whether you agree with it or not.

In every aspect of life it is necessary to listen, learn and educate yourself. Today, I want to challenge you to expand your idea of what gender truly is.

( Photo via Vanityfair.com )

2 comments Body Image, LGBTI, Media, Opinion

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