Entertainment / Keeping Up With Caitlyn Jenner

Keeping Up With Caitlyn Jenner

Entertainment Jun 02, 2015

by Naemah Abid

The World Welcomes the Newest Addition to the Kardashian-Jenner Family.

No, we're not talking about Kim Kardashian's announcement of her second pregnancy with husband Kanye West. Yesterday, June 1, 2015, Caitlyn Jenner was born. Not only did she make her debut on the cover of popular magazine Vanity Fair but she also started her record breaking social media life on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter where she garned more than 1 million followers in just 4 hours – all in hopes of inspiring a generation of tolerance and love for the transgender community.

We've been Keeping Up with the Kardashians for eight years. Their show captures each and every aspect of their private lives and puts them on TV for the world to see. Little did we know that Bruce Jenner was keeping the family's biggest secret. The loving and caring, carpooling dad of 10 (six biological children and four step-children) wowed us all.

Jenner — not just an athlete but a 1976 Olympic Gold Medalist and an American hero — had been struggling with gender identity since she (we must use female nouns out of respect for her newfound identity) was eight years old. In secret, she would try on her mother's and sister's clothing — even going out in them without being noticed. At that time, she didn't know why she, whom society physically identified as a boy, felt at home and at peace in women's clothing. There was nowhere for her to turn, to ask questions or to seek help for what she was feeling. She had the soul of a woman but the body of a man.

In April 2015, Jenner revealed to Diane Sawyer on ABC's 20/20 that she used the Olympic games as a distraction — as an escape from her true feelings. After the games, Jenner revealed her gender crisis to her wife at the time.This discussion didn't cause the couple's divorce. The revelation was, however, the reason for Jenner's second divorce, when she finally decided to transition and start hormone replacement therapy in the mid-1980s. She had fathered two children in each marriage.

But five years later, Jenner decided against coming out. As a public figure, she feared scrutiny from the media, judgment from the general public and the consequences to her children. In the early '90s, Jenner stopped transitioning and married Kris Jenner.

The couple were together for more than 20 years. They had two daughters, led successful careers and built an empire. But Jenner was unhappy. She was tired of playing the role of Bruce and wanted to be herself — her true female self. Although the couple recently finalized their divorce, they'd been separated for a while. During this separation, Jenner restarted her therapy and undertook transition surgeries.

In May 2015, E! aired a two-part Bruce Jenner special that documents her coming out to her children. These episodes reveal that different children on separate occasions had caught their father in women's clothing. The family protected the secret without ever discussing it with their father. The Kardsashian-Jenner children thought of her as a cross-dresser and weren't aware of her gender crisis or her will to transition. Jenner then vowed to be honest and open with her children. She addressed all their questions — even the embarrassing ones about gender reassignment surgery and dating as a woman. She also explained that she's attracted to women and that sexual orientation is separate from gender.

Jenner decided to take this bold step, realizing that she'd lived her life for others. She had lived a lie. At 65, she didn't want to look forward to an end with regrets, so she decided on a new beginning, exploring life as Caitlyn Jenner. She documented her complete transition, which will air on E! this summer. She believes that her true purpose in life is to come out, address all the speculation, spread awareness and inspire all those who are afraid of being themselves.

Caitlyn's decision is a truly brave and a big step forward for the transgender community. Even though India is one of the few countries that recognize a third gender outside of male and female, there's no home for the transgender community within India's larger cultural context. Of course, the Hijra community has been acknowledged and celebrated for years, but the community still exists on the outskirts of widespread acceptance.

If you have or someone you know has questions about gender identity or other terms we used here, there are lots of accessible online resources you can refer to — like UN Free & Equal. Click on "Factsheet" from the menu for definitions. You can also contact your local LGBTIQ centre for more information.

^{_{Images courtesy of:}

Featured Image: cnn.com

Instagram: @vanityfair, @kendalljenner

Twitter: @caitlyn_jenner}

Naemah Abid

Author

Born in Saudi Arabia and originally from Pakistan, this Canadian immigrant is all too familiar with airport life. After taking her first pleasure trip abroad post-graduation, Naemah was hit with the travel bug. Find this frequent traveller sharing pictures and experiences, offering up advice and tra...

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Keeping Up With Caitlyn Jenner

by Naemah Abid

The World Welcomes the Newest Addition to the Kardashian-Jenner Family.

Naemah Abid

COMMENTS

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