Enough, already
While we celebrate Caitlyn Jenner’s transition, the story itself reflects our obsession with money and status — and that’s never a good thing
Is it too soon to be tired of Caitlyn Jenner?
Lately we notice a certain Caitlyn fatigue cropping up in the general public and observe a glazing-over of eyes at the mention of her name. Or maybe that’s just us. The courage involved in making a public declaration of self is absolutely worth celebrating, but some cracks are already showing up in this polished veneer.
Inquiring minds want to know: Is all this going to turn out to be about just another pretty face? Comparisons to Jessica Lange and Cindy Crawford are very complimentary and all that chat about hair and makeup and wardrobe is no doubt fascinating, but had we wanted to turn back the clock and celebrate the male gaze we’d be watching the Kardashians.
Or is this all going to turn out to be about money and status?
As transgender star Laverne Cox (Orange Is the New Black) has already pointed out, “Most trans folks don’t have the privileges Caitlyn and I have now have,” and amen to that, sister. Not everyone in the trans world has the money or the wherewithal to look like Caitlyn Jenner, and not everyone wants to.
There are many vulnerable people in the transgender community, writes Cox, and, “It is those trans folks we must continue to lift up, get them access to health care, jobs, housing, safe streets, safe schools and homes for our young people. We must lift up the stories of those most at risk, statistically trans people of colour who are poor and working class.”
Or is this going to be all about censored media?
With respect, every story about Caitlin Jenner — one person — is space not devoted to climate change, child poverty, racial unrest, lying senators, the situation in Syria or any of the many other issues facing the planet that our political leaders are hoping you’ll forget about.
Please go shopping. Please discuss the cost of Caitlyn Jenner’s various surgeries. Please argue about the use of the word “vagina.” Please fail to notice that the flag-draped coffins of dead American soldiers can no longer be shown on U.S. TV. Oops! How did that get in there? Or is this all about hagiography? Is Caitlyn Jenner now an untouchable icon of transgender life? Any woman in her 60s who poses on the cover of Vanity Fair in her skivvies had better expect a couple of shots, but so far, anything other than adulation for Caitlyn Jenner gets slapped down mighty quick. Are you a saint, now, Caitlyn? For sure, Chris Brown, Snoop Dogg and others have said idiotic things, but that’s not disrespect — that’s just fear and garden variety ignorance.
Disrespect is coming, mind you, and in the usual ways: When someone gets all handsy with Jenner at a party or calls her “dear” because she’s 65 or pats her backside while she’s minding her own business at the grocery store.
Let’s hope her gender transition has included that most crucial physical aspect of female life: A very thick skin.
Meanwhile, if the Caitlyn Jenner reality TV show turns out to be all about control-top panty hose or perfect eyebrows and not at all about pay equity or reproductive rights, there’s going to be a lot of grousing about wasted opportunities.
Fair warning, that’s all.