Speculation
about Bruce Jenner’s gender transition is in celebrity news a lot lately and
I’m disturbed by how most of these articles are treating them. As Jenner was
assigned the male gender at birth and is possibly now identifying as a woman
(frankly, I don’t know this for a fact, nor do many of the articles describing
them as transitioning) I will refer to Jenner as they and them throughout
this article. Pronouns matter, so let’s talk about them.
I
recently read another article that depicts Jenner as transitioning to a
feminine identity and it consistently refers to Jenner as “he” and “him.” The recent article in People begins with “His changing look.”
His. The first word in the article is
“his.”
(And for anyone thinking “It’s just celebrity gossip, ignore it!” – you may be underestimating the power of this kind of tabloid-y mainstream media to have quite an influence on what people think and feel. The influence is vast – just look at the number of shares on the People article).
‘“Bruce
is transitioning to a woman,” says a source close to the family. “He is finally
happy and his family is accepting of what he’s doing. He’s in such a great space.
That’s why it’s the perfect time to do something like this.”
While
it’s amazing and inspiring that their family is supporting them, even the
“family insider” is referring to them as “he” and “him.” As a result, so does
the writer of the article (and many others). The article has a veneer of trans
acceptance and respect for Jenner’s choices while taking no care to justify the
use of the male pronouns or explain the disjunction between the fact that they
are going to live as a woman, as reported, and continually describing Jenner in
male terms.
This
kind of approach – treating a transitioning gender identity or expression as
something put on or added, superficially, like clothing or make-up, to a base
identity that hasn’t actually changed – is
not respectful of trans people and identities.
The
other side of this is, perhaps, that Jenner is expressing their gender in a
different way lately that is more on the spectrum of feminine expression. That
doesn’t necessarily mean they are a trans woman, and readers should be mindful not
to assume that every man who expresses things traditionally linked to
femininity, or every woman that expresses things traditionally linked to
masculinity, is trans or has the intention to transition to living as a
different gender. Gender identity and gender expression are linked but are,
indeed, two different concepts. There is no single or “right” way to express
gender.
The
other issue here is how our society doesn’t seem to know how to deal with a person
in transition. The last few years have involved a great deal of increased
awareness of transgender issues and trans visibility. There is a growing
contingent of trans celebrities. A lot of publications covering stories about
trans people on a superficial level don’t seem to know what to do when their
gender isn’t conforming to the gender binary. They can figure out “woman who
was assigned male at birth” (often explained, horribly, as “biologically
male”).
So while people seem to be getting over their prejudicial hang-ups and
at least accepting, if not understanding, trans identities, comprehending the
potential transition of a 65-year-old, who has long been known in the public
eye as male, is somehow baffling.
People
in transition deserve the same respect as someone who has already transitioned
– not that transitioning is necessarily some sort of Point A to Point B finite
process for many people.
If
you wouldn’t call a transwoman celebrity who has been living as a woman for 10
years “he” or “him,” why is Jenner being treated differently? Because they are
transitioning later in life? Because they haven’t (yet or publicly anyway)
changed their name to something that screams woman? Because you knew them as
Kim Kardashian’s stepfather?
Rule
number 1 for me as a writer is to respect and honour the preferred pronouns of
the person in question, and to ask respectful questions to seek direction on
how to best and most accurately portray the person’s identity and expression.
Bruce
Jenner’s gender identity and expression may not be obvious or neat and tidy at
the moment, and it doesn’t need to be. They may identify within the binary as a
woman, or maybe more gender fluidly. Either way, if their preferred pronouns
cannot be gleaned directly from them, writers should take care to reflect on
how to most respectfully describe Jenner, and note that pronouns should reflect
a current gender identity, not the past.
And
until Bruce Jenner discusses their gender identity and possible transition
publicly, it’s really none of our business and the speculation pieces really
should give it up. Their gender transition is not a spectacle for our consumption.
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