HOW THE KARDASHIAN CULTURE CAN CONFUSE QUESTIONING TEENS
THE ‘Kardashian culture’ is leading more people to question their gender identity, Professor Donal O’Shea believes. The stepfather of Kim Kardashian, Bruce Jenner, is the highest-profile celebrity to have had a sex change, famously transitioning to Caitlyn Jenner. Prof. O’Shea said they are seeing a rise in ‘gender confused’ teenagers, rather than those who have what he calls, ‘true gender dysphoria’. He also explained: ‘There is a definite increase internationally in children presenting with gender dysphoria, gender confusion and gender fluidity. ‘Like any condition, we don’t fully understand why it is on the rise. But it is very definitely on the rise and recognition and visibility is certainly a part of it. ‘Now it’s much more visible and with visibility comes acceptability. The Kardashian culture, where it’s out there to be seen, is having an impact on people who are gender confused or gender-fluid, and individuals are more likely to explore that side of their personality. ‘But as with many things in popular culture, it’s a classic double-edged sword. ‘The increased visibility is positive for those who have true gender dysphoria, but it’s potentially harmful for the gender-confused individual who might end up going down a road that is not appropriate for them and one that they are very unhappy on,’ he said. Prof. O’Shea said the portrayal of transgender people in cartoons and anime is also having an impact, and is a subject frequently explored with psychologists, as patients report seeing ‘a character who believes that all their problems are rooted in gender and everything is great when they transition’.