When He Becomes She

Caitlyn “formally known as Bruce” Jenner has stirred the hearts of millions by appearing on the cover Vanity Fair after a successful gender transition surgery. According to International Business Times, her penis isn’t on the chopping block yet, but I imagine her little guy’s end is faster approaching. I’ve written about this issue before and progressives—specifically trans friendly feminists—would consider my opinions to be transphobic. These words are not written to heap hate on Caitlyn for her choices. Individual freedom should be cherished and gender dysphoria is a complex mental affliction. While gender transition seems like a poor choice of “medical” treatment to me, If her dysphoria is alleviated, then who am I to stop her? However, the knee jerk reactions to Caitlyn’s surgery illuminates deeper fissures of intolerance which plague our culture.

Vanity Fair Cover

There seem to be three types of responses: 1) complete support and excessive rejoicing (starry eyes included). 2) Disgust and sneering mockery. 3) A sigh and shrugs from folks who either don’t care or ponder under foggy ambivalence. Jenner wasn’t a big name on my radar, but her Olympic accomplishments have created a loyal following among athletes. Now Caitlyn is known by everyone—famous or otherwise. Gender fluidity advocates are hailing this event as a big increase in awareness for trans people and their struggles.

I have been referring to Bruce by his chosen name and preferred pronoun. One might assume that I disagree, yet still endorse her choices. My word choice is a polite gesture and nothing more. Normally this charade isn’t a topic worth writing about until Caitlyn won the Arthur Ashe Courage Award. Let me slay some falsehoods: there is nothing intrinsically brave or courageous about getting gender reassignment surgery. The ESPY awarded Caitlyn specifically because she is a trans person. That decision stinks of social ass-kissing. Nathan Galloway, who is a double amputee and Iraq War veteran, has many sports related accomplishments which I think eclipse Jenner’s gold medals. Certainly this man has overcome greater adversity than Caitlyn. His status as a “runner-up” for the award is false, but the disgrace of choosing Jenner over Nathan and other qualifying candidates remains.

Being critical of individuals who fundamentally alter their natural form doesn’t represent any kind of phobia. Intolerant attitudes will label such criticism as hate-speech. When did absurdity become normal? I read an article talking about a professor from Quebec who proposes the idea of “trans-ability.” This refers people suffering from Body Identity Integrity Disorder and how society should encourage these people to cripple themselves. Presumably doctors would be forced under the law to perform procedures demanded by mentally ill patients because that’s how the medical field has always worked right? Only academics would promote ideas that are completely divorced from reality. Perception doesn’t trump the real world. Someone questioning bodily integrity doesn’t make that person’s notion correct. Caitlyn may look like a woman—props to her plastic surgeons—but she, in all technicality, is still a man. Phrasing, ideological redefinitions and academic theory won’t change the truth. Mentally stable people do not alter their bodies—changing sex or removing limbs—for any reason other than medical necessity. Our culture must stop encouraging this behavior or the people we want to help will be irrevocably damaged. Understand, I’m not advocating that we shame trans people for their struggles; we should be looking for alternative treatments, not spewing gender identity rhetoric.


Edit 6/82015: A couple readers brought some concerns and questions about this post, therefore, I’ll provide further clarification about my stance on this issue. First off, technicially transsexual is a gender identity deriving from one's gender dysphoria (classified as a gender identity disorder). I’m not saying that some criticism of trans people doesn’t come from a phobia, that’s definitely a possibility. But right now cultural rhetoric will classify any criticism as transphobic speech. My criticism stems from a concern that people with transsexualism are being convinced that gender transition surgery is “cure-all” solution for the common depression and suicidal tendencies which afflict these individuals. Statistics on the success rate of gender reassignment surgery tells a different tale. Trans people is a problematic term because there are many variations and specific circumstances through which one might label themselves a “trans person.”


My statements and criticism do not extend towards intersex people. These are folks who have androgynous genitalia and/or other physical abnormalities usually caused by chromosomes and hormones not developing properly. In these cases, they have very good reasons to question their gender and sexual orientation. I still believe therapy is a good place to start, but other treatments may be necessary. Now to Jenner. While I disagree with gender transition surgery on principle, I don’t have a problem with Caitlyn for that reason. It seems like she made an educated decision after years of therapy and struggling with dysphoria, she didn’t make a rash decision and hopefully her gender dysphoria will be eliminated. My complaint lies with the ESPY and their reason for nominating Jenner. The last paragraph deals more with my frustration about how crazy academia have become regard these issues and the worldview assumptions they make about gender and sexuality. I hope this edit better illustrates my position. Thanks for reading. 

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