Every American knows the woman that is Caitlyn Jenner. To the older generation, she is the apple of America’s eye, the 1976 Olympic decathlon hero who brought record-breaking acclaim to our country’s name. To the younger generation, she was a part of the Kardashian family, a reality TV star that seemed more like an idea than a real person.
But wait—she? Yes, she. For 65 years, Caitlyn Jenner hid behind a man we called Bruce Jenner. Here’s why the visibility of her sensationalized transformation matters to both cisgender Americans and the transgender community alike.
1. Transgender people face violence and discrimination.
People fear what they cannot understand. As such, trans people are discriminated against in the work place, housing market, and the health care industry, leading to both homelessness and poverty. Furthermore, violence against trans people—both sexual and physical—is commonplace. In fact, 50 percent of transgender people have been sexually assaulted or raped by a partner, and it is projected that one in 12 trans women are murdered.
2. Moreover, the suicide risk among trans people is abnormally high.
Compared to the 1.6 percent of the general population that has attempted suicide, 41 percent of trans people have tried to take their own lives. Harassment and prejudice from others can make the going extremely tough for those that identify as the opposite gender. As stated previously, violence and discrimination are risk factors that heighten the suicide risk for trans people every day.
3. The visibility of transgender public figures is important.
The normalization of being transgender is the first step to widespread acceptance and further enlightenment of the public. Take for example Laverne Cox. Like Jenner, Cox is also a transgender woman in the public eye and portrays trans prisoner Sophia Burset in the Netflix original hit, "Orange is the New Black." Visibility equals awareness. The emergence of people like Jenner and Cox is vital to the future welfare of the trans population in that they help to de-stigmatize what it means to be "transgender."
4. The word “courage” has forever been redefined by Caitlyn Jenner.
After Jenner’s announcement that she wanted to live as a transgender woman, she was honored with the Arthur Ashe Courage Award. When we are young, we are told that courage is wiping away our tears and standing back up when we scrape our knees. We are told that bravery is a battle, whether it involves going into war or fighting cancer—yet, Jenner shows us that courage could also mean being yourself when others could despise who you are. She reminds us that it could also mean being the woman you are at heart and unabashedly embracing it in front of millions, repercussions be damned. And by God, do we love a beautiful, brave woman who grabs life by the horns.
So welcome, Caitlyn. We’re so happy to meet you.
