'Call Me Caitlyn'

'Call Me Caitlyn'

Bruce Jenner presents himself as Caitlyn Jenner to the world for the first time on the cover of the Vanity Fair magazine.

65 year old William Bruce Jenner went under the knife earlier this year and is now fully transformed into Caitlyn Jenner. Caitlyn has flowing brown hair, slim physique, smooth complexion and one hell of a positive attitude. She is said to be the embodiment of the modern woman, the symbol of personal freedom and the epitome of self-expression.

But are these claims truly valid? Or do they just reinforce the old fashioned stereotypes of womanhood. Caitlyn seems to me more of a high class commodity rather than an inspiration to people everywhere.

Don’t get me wrong, I am not criticizing the fact that she (or he..) has transformed into a completely different person. I am not bashing transgender individuals and in fact I support Caitlyn for being so open about her transition and her feelings. I appreciate her going so public with this new chapter in her life and for allowing all of us to tune in and understand where she is coming from. I believe her being in the spotlight is a good thing in the sense that it allows all the other transgender individuals to feel better about themselves and feel more accepted by society and develop a sense of self-appreciation. I am certain many had doubts about choosing to pursue a new body and essentially become a new person, like Caitlyn had when she first came out of surgery. Her coming out so publicly and not being afraid to share her experience is somewhat admirable.

I just have a problem with the way she presents herself to the world. In the twenty two page story in the Vanity Fair magazine, Caitlyn introduces herself to the world for the first time. She is featured in a multitude of photographs wearing golden glittery dresses, posing in a sexy yet mysterious manner. On the cover of the magazine she is barely wearing anything at all. Within the story she is wearing skintight clothes, she is leaning on the sofa and peering into the mirror. She is presenting herself as a symbol of personal freedom and self-expression, yet she is falling into the entrapment of women by society.

Caitlyn is further reinforcing the stereotypes that women are no more than mere objects of sexuality. She is supporting the fact that women are held up against impossible beauty standards. She is upholding the limitations of the womanhood deemed acceptable by society.

Caitlyn is a 65 year old woman, yet she looks better than most 30 year old women. Through tons of plastic surgery she was able to become an almost doll-like version of a woman. She has plump lips, not a single wrinkle on her face. She has the perfect slim body that no woman can even dream of achieving naturally through what was given to her genetically. Caitlyn is allowing the media to portray what the ideal woman is meant to look like and act like through her.

Caitlyn is praised for getting plastic surgery to finally become what she has always wanted to be, yet many women her age, who undergo cosmetic enhancement to appear younger, are shamed for it. The media sets impossible beauty standards for the female population, and expects everyone to comply, yet when the women attempt to become the ideal woman in physical appearance they are mocked for falling susceptible to the mass media.

The millions of 65 year old women get absolutely no recognition whatsoever, no matter how distinguished they may be. And here is Caitlyn on the cover of the Vanity Fair magazine, getting all the media attention and what for exactly? She is only supporting the unrealistic and impossible standards set out for women.

As well, in the interview with Bruce’s four children, they describe him as being an insensitive father who has been absent for years at a time. And Bruce/Caitlyn openly admits to that and expresses regret. Her son, Burt says, “I have high hopes that Caitlyn is a better person than Bruce. I’m very much looking forward to that.”

But Caitlyn is Bruce. They are the exact same person. Bruce may now look like a completely new individual, but his personality remains with Caitlyn. Bruce’s past doesn’t just go away with his change. He is still present within Caitlyn and I am just shocked that his children are able to forget his nonexistence in their childhood and welcome her back with open arms.

I am simply baffled by their immediate forgiveness.

But who am I to judge those who I do not know? Those whose experiences I have never been through. I will never fully understand Caitlyn’s decision to allow the media to manipulate her to fit their vision of the ideal woman. And I will never understand the children’s readiness to forgive so easily. I simply cannot understand, but I can voice my opinion then move on.