Ageism

Bruce Jenner is transgender. No problem. There is such a range of sexuality and identity that I am not one to judge how someone feels, identifies, or expresses themselves.

Caitlin comes out and graces the cover of Vanity Fair. At first I had no comment about it but the more she was in the media, something got under my skin.

She’s revealed as a YOUNG woman. In reality, she’s 65 years old. If she’s going to live her life as a female, can she at least be real about her age? A 65 year old woman does not look like she does on the cover of Vanity Fair.

Then I thought about the world she lives in. The Kardashians are all about appearance, looking young and beautiful. It makes sense that Caitlin would think a 65 year old woman would actually look half that age.

I’m guilty of ageism too. I slather on face cream, exercise every day, and dye my hair. Is this my authentic self? I do this because I still feel like I’m 27 so I want to look closer to that age than I do to my 52. If Caitlin feels she’s a 35 year old woman and had the means to pay a surgeon to make her look that way, should I be bothered by that?

It just seems like there is some disservice to the transgender community by being pro-youth and pro-beauty. I think the fictional Netflix show “Transparent” is more realistic than the real transition of Bruce to Caitlin.