Does Caitlyn Jenner Deserve An Award?

Well, I think from the title of this post, you can tell that I am still not all that keen on writing about food, even though I have been eating more than my fair share of calories *exam time guilt* – without reason may I add, considering I am barely studying.

But no, the real reason I have decided to post up today, randomly, out of the blue, is because there is a very hot and controversial topic floating around the media these days. I’m probably a little late, it was hotter last week, but I still want to give my two cents worth.

I don’t follow the Kardashians. Or should I say ‘keep up’ with them. Beyond the fashion that they wear (which is, admittedly, quite excellent, especially Kendall), I don’t care about their whozits and whatzits galore. I don’t go around glorifying them like half the population (amazingly), but nor do I go around hating on them and posting comments like ‘ugh, why are they even famous?’, though sometimes, it is a valid question. I believe I am apathetic towards them.

But I also don’t live under a social rock. And like most of the world, I saw the transformation of Bruce Jenner into Caitlyn Jenner (deliberately not a ‘K’) and the Vanity Fair spread about it. The hype is there, you type Caitlyn into google, and Jenner is the first option. You type ‘Vanity Fair’ and Caitlyn Jenner will inevitably follow.

Can I just say, I think what Caitlyn did was brave. Can you imagine waking up everyday, in a body which makes you feel so uncomfortable? Can you imagine having the longings of a woman’s life, while trapped in a confusing maze of male testosterone (or vice versa)? And in saying that, being unable to even discuss it with your friends because, not to be stereotypical but relying on statistics, men often do not talk about feelings like this without fear of, for example, physical retribution?

And she grew up in a time where these kinds of feelings were unacceptable a lot of the time. That is NOT what was unacceptable. What WAS unacceptable that such people were outcasted for expressing their feelings, or had to repress them for fear of societal rejection because people were too blind to see it was biological. It happens people, sometimes humans are born with the mind of a female trapped in a male, or the other way around. Accept it and move on.

And don’t even begin to bring religion into this as an argument against it. Although if I keep going on this track, it will bring up a whole other can of worms, and I don’t want to upset anyone.

So overall, it must have indeed been very difficult for Caitlyn. And I am very glad that Vanity Fair did such a spread because it raises awareness and acceptance of these people for a larger audience, so no, I’m not against people giving it attention at all. Vanity Fair has such an extensive following all over the world, and for them to promote this was a fantastic way of bringing to light the need to accept people for who they are (although you would think we were modern enough to do that anyway… but obviously not.)

And I do admit. Having such a high profile family, as Caitlyn Jenner has, surrounded by fame-seeking people, it must have been a little bit more difficult to brave the world viewing and judging your transformation. I remember, I was flicking through some random websites one day, and I saw a spread on ”Bruce Jenner Breast Implants.’ I mean, each step of your journey, taken by the media and publicised to the rest of the world, despite the private nature of it. Must have been a little harder to do.

But here comes the real question – Was it so brave that she deserved the ESPY Courage Award? No.

No. No. No.

Considering I have just celebrated her sex-change, as you have read, you may be a little surprised at my adamance against her award. But don’t be, because I am about to explain why I don’t think she deserved this prize.

What Caitlyn did was a remarkably moving step to become comfortable in her own person, while in the eyes of gossip mongers everywhere. But there are so. many. people, who, despite not having such a high calibre profile, battle their own societal demons to also make this massive personal change.

They are all heroes in their own right, for conquering their issues in gender identity so why specifically recognise Jenner, who already was getting so much more attention from the Hollywood world to progress the idea of acceptance?

This award could have gone to so many other people, whose courage has not only been personal, but helped the world and made a difference. The biggest example, of course, was 19 year old basketball star, Lauren Hill. Passed away now unfortunately, (rest in peace.), Hill was diagnosed with brain cancer but continued playing. She was a shining example of hoping for the best, even raising $1 million for cancer research before her death.

Snoop Dog (I’m sure you all have heard of this rapper, his name is pretty distinctive) wrote a controversial tweet or Insta-post on how he was angry at a ‘science project’ getting the award, when there were other more deserving people. That’s rude too, Caitlyn or any sex-change recipient is not some ‘science project’, that was just crass. But he is a prominent example of the backlash that is facing Jenner and the ESPN at the moment.

I get that Jenner can now stand proud amongst her peers in the sporting arena. She can stand proud as a woman in Hollywood.

But that is not a reason to give her prestigious award for courage in my opinion.

Do you agree, dear readers? If not, why?