Last night was the premiere of E!'s highly anticipated eight-part special, I Am Cait. In the first few minutes, Caitlyn Jenner awoke around 4 a.m. and experienced something most women can relate to—a sudden panic about her identity, as well as the responsibility she has to her children, her family, and of course, herself.
RELATED: 10 Powerful Responses to Caitlyn Jenner's Debut From the Trans Community
Granted, Caitlyn's situation differs from many of ours because she, at the age of 65, has decided that it's time for her to begin living as her complete, authentic self—which means transitioning into a woman in front of the entire world. Regardless of how you feel about Caitlyn, that choice is most certainly brave and deserving of praise; you've got to give her lots of credit for not giving up or shrugging her shoulders and deciding she was too old and that it was too late.
RELATED: Caitlyn Jenner Shares Her Fears About the Heavy Responsibility on Her Shoulders
Even though she may seem to have it all in terms of wealth, power, and celebrity, Caitlyn's journey is important for all of us because she's still dealing with issues many women face: namely how to truly be yourself. Though you might not be able to personally relate to her transition, you can certainly empathize with much of what she's going through.
Here are three reasons to tune in:
It's About Being Yourself
For many women, struggling with what we're told we need to be versus who we want to be is an ongoing, often destructive challenge. As a pro athlete—and to many, a symbol of masculinity—Bruce Jenner represented what men were "supposed" to look and act like. Imagine what that must have felt like for Caitlyn, who throughout the first episode of I Am Cait seems much more at ease in heels and lipstick than she ever did in boxy button-down shirts. She herself reiterates multiple times that she is happier now, has more confidence, and is feeling better than she ever has in her entire life. Part of that is because of the support she's recieved from the people she loves during this transition.
Embracing the person you want to be can be scary, especially if you're afraid you might be rejected by those who love you. That's why it was so profound to see Caitlyn's family show her love and have those hard conversations.
It's About Appreciating Your Loved Ones' Support—Even When They Don't Get It 100 Percent Right
The premiere episode focuses a lot on Caitlyn's relationship with her mother, Esther. Throughout the episode, Esther has a hard time switching pronouns, often refering to Caitlyn as Bruce, and using "he," as opposed to "she." However, after a meeting with a licensed family therapist who specializes in transgender families, Esther begins to open up a bit more and sits down with Caitlyn for a real heart-to-heart.
Caitlyn also recieves a surprise Facetime call from her youngest daughter, Kylie. Kylie hadn't met Caitlyn in person yet but immediately responded openly with compliments and support. This moment was lived in person, as well, when Kylie stopped by Caitlyn's house later in the episode, embracing her and saying, "Hi, pretty."
This bond doesn't go unnoticed by Caitlyn, who uses her platform to point out that for many transgender people, family support is nowhere to be found. Depression and suicide rates are much higher for transgender people, and for young ones in particular, the world can be a cruel, unnaccepting, and often dangerous place.
It's About Accepting Others as They Strive to Be Their True Selves
Raising awareness for the transgender community and transgender young people in particular is incredibly important to Caitlyn. During the last part of the episode, she visits the mother of transgender teen Kyler Prescott, who recently took his own life. Kyler's mother confides in Caitlyn that it wasn't like other kids bullied him or that his family wasn't accepting. She says it was the adults in Kyler's life who brought torment to her son. She said their lack of understanding and acceptence was something he just couldn't understand. In one of the saddest moments of the show, Kyler's mother says that his new birth certificate—with his correct gender identity on it—arrived only a few days after he commited suicide.
This experience touches Caitlyn in a visible way. She tells Kyler's mother—and in many ways, the audience at home—that we can't go on like this. Society needs to change, and we need to learn to be kinder and have more empathy for each other.
Sure, it's a Kardashian reality show, complete with full makeup and some obviously canned lines. But it is also real in a way that we can't deny. It's hard to watch Caitlyn, who is now openly living her best life and using that positive energy to help others, and not ask ourselves, "How can we wake up tomorrow and be better women, too?"
Walang komento:
Mag-post ng isang Komento