Blog Post 5

The articles and video clips that I watched for this blog post were especially intriguing and enjoyable for me to read. Much of this stems from my interest and enthusiasm for learning about people and cultures across the globe. I see this trans-culture as being no different than any other, and am glad to have the opportunity to learn more about it, considering my education up until this point had drilled facts about many “more common” cultures across the globe. I can also admit that I have been victim to assuming one’s identity based on visual cues, whether it be of gender or race. In the case of Bruce Jenner, that assumption was perceived in the form of gender assumption. 

I had heard of the Bruce Jenner film with Diane Sawyer when it first premiered, and although I had intentions to watch it, I never did. Before today, I knew the basic concept of her transition, her history as an olympic athlete, and presence on the Keeping up with the Kardashians, but it was refreshing to finally hear her words being spoken, first hand rather than through summaries and advertisements. I think that at the time of this news first breaking, many people had never personally encountered or had the chance to learn about a trans-person in their lives; Bruce Jenner provided the media’s outlet to normalizing this transition. A gender change was nothing new to our country when Bruce Jenner released his statement, but it was certainly something that was kept quiet. In his interview with Sawyer, Bruce explains that he too was nervous about this day, anticipating that it would eventually come, but worried how it may play out. Although he admits that he has the brain of a woman, Sawyer explains that most people at home are confused as to how to take in this information, considering he did in fact still have all male genitalia and a deep voice. This is a major example of the public’s reliance on visual cues when determining one’s identity. Jenner explains that his entire life he was seen as a “macho male” who excelled at the olympics and was perhaps a role model for many young American boys. In a symbolic motion, he took out his ponytail, revealing his newfound comfort in acknowledging his gender. Although I would describe myself as a very open and accepting person of all identities, this action really opened my mind and reshaped my ideas of how a person wants to be treated. I am not the type of person to judge someone for what they wear or how they act, but I found myself shocked when the ponytail was taken down. I then realized that if I had truly been as accepting as I carded myself for being, I would not have been taken aback at all. In fact, Jenner’s goal of this action, I think, was to make the public more comfortable with people who visually have all the traits of a “man” but perhaps identity as a woman (ABC News). One of the most emotional parts of the clip for me was when Jenner states that he was worried about coming out, or even asking his doctor questions about a sex change, because he was worried he would dissapoint the public. It pains me to believe that even people as seemingly confident and strong as a multi-champion olympic athlete would still shrug in fear to find their own happiness. I hope that one day our country grows to be more accepting of people’s individual happiness, and stop concerning themselves with things that do not affect them. The article What Makes a Woman delves into this concept of transgender unacceptance of Americans. Burkett begins the article by touching on the topic of Jenner, and describing how his female identity is not the same as her own. She seems to get quite defensive throughout the article, something I was not expecting to see. Through this reading, I found that perhaps I have been sheltered into being so accepting of people different and perhaps more controversial than myself, that I forgot to consider the opinions of others. Although I cannot say that I agree with her anger towards Jenner and other trans-people, I see the points that she is making and I understand her frustration. She mentions that trans-people articulate only the positive notions of being a woman, such as Jenner’s comment on her excitement to get a manicure, that they disregard the bad things. She is angered that the female brain, although visually identical to that of a male, is affected by the “drip drip drip” of the gendered environment, something a trans-person cannot experience as they didn’t grow up with women’s oppression, for example (Burkett 2015). I appreciate that Burkett is considering more than simply the visual cues of trans-people and their identities that many of us struggle with, and while I see that her arguments are well formulated and considered, I still struggle to agree. Unfortunately, I think that our country as well as the rest of the world will continue to struggle to move beyond these stereotypes is nowhere near being over, and I’m not sure that I see it happening any time in the near future. Until then, I think it is important for people like Caitlyn Jenner to tell their stories, if they are comfortable, and encourage other people to be comfortable in their own identities as well.

“Bruce Jenner: The Interview.” ABC News, ABC News Network, 2015, abcnews.go.com/2020/fullpage/bruce-jenner-the-interview-30471558.

Burkett, Elinor. “What Makes a Woman?” The New York Times, The New York Times, 6 June 2015, www.nytimes.com/2015/06/07/opinion/sunday/what-makes-a-woman.html.

3 thoughts on “Blog Post 5

  1. Hi Arya!

    I can relate to you when you mentioned that you have experienced assuming one’s identity based on visual cues, whether it be of gender or race, but who does not right? I personally think that they might feel a bit unfair when a trans-person does not experience the same kind of struggle or oppression, but does that mean someone’s race or gender is only valid with a certain struggles or oppressions? Maybe some might see the desire of changing race or gender as extensions of the social and cultural factors that have led to the widespread oppression and discrimination of these minority groups while some view these procedures as steps towards equal opportunity for members of minority groups. According to International Center for Ethics, Justice and Public Life, ethnic cosmetic surgery offered an alternative and acceptable medical method of ‘cleansing’ and ‘purifying’ racial/ethnic phenotype which I do not necessarily agree. Also, I find it interesting in the Ruby Rose video when he mentioned that he actually does not want a transition, he just wanted to be as comfortable as possible in his own skin.

  2. I’m glad that this video had a strong impact on you and opened your mind. I personally did not watch the video when it came out, and I had a lot of disdain for Caitlyn. Not because they decided to transition but because of their celebrity, and how they transformed the issue due to her celebrity status and made themselves the face of the movement. Ultimately Caitlyn was good for the trans movement in the US, and you are completely right, she has a right to happiness just like anyone else.

  3. After reading your blog, I have to say that I agree with many of the points you made. Transgender is a new topic in our society today that many people, including myself are not familiar with. In the past, the topic of transgender was almost a taboo subject that was looked down upon and not talked about. I think the main reason for this is an ignorance of what transgender is and what it means. After Caitlyn Jenner’s public transition from man to woman, transgender is all people can talk about. It is all over the news and social media. Caitlyn Jenner’s decision to publicly transition was a courageous decision that has given ignorant people insight into what it means to be transgender. This is a huge step for the transgender community towards acceptance and understanding. Although there is still a great deal of scrutiny to overcome, I think that the progress towards our society accepting transgender people will save many lives and make many people’s lives better.

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