So we may be a little biased when it comes to this new Caitlyn Jenner #BreakTheInternet cover parody, but does this joke seem just a little ... off? The undertone of the parody cover is that Caitlyn, whose Vanity Fair cover was released the day after news about Kimye's second child broke, is not one to be championed for her bravery but for usurping Kim's position as the definitive Kardashian to care about. A sentiment further bolstered by the mispelling of Jenner's name, which makes it pretty obvious that the creator was more invested in the lulz than commending Jenner?
And then we get images like:
And it's not just a few dumb memes that have gone viral on Instagram. Sneaky, sexist commentary has been accompanying much of the Caitlyn Jenner media coverage thus far. It's something so icky that even Jon Stewart had to say something last night.In the clip, you hear pundits opining on Caitlyn's "hotness:" But is "she hotter than Kris?" "Most importantly, does she have a better body than Kim Kardashian?" This concept of attractiveness being tantamount to worth, and something that should be competed for and won, is, unfortunately, nothing new for women in the spotlight. (Or, uh, in general.) After all, it doesn't matter that Kim has been one of the biggest supporters of Caitlyn's transition, because, she's no longer the hottest or most talked about member of the Kardashian clan. It's a line of thinking that has dangerous roots in the idea that all women are catty, competitive and obsessed with being the center of attention.
Pitting females (not to mention family members), against one another is tasteless -- especially as the world is already populated by enough gross people, as evidenced by a hateful petition to have Jenner's Olympic medals revoked. Yes, Caitlyn looks great, but more importantly she's finally happy with herself and who she is -- making a move that trans activist Geena Rocero said will save lives and bring some much needed visibility to the trans community. So stop talking about her "comparative fuckability" and remember that a huge American sports star is doing something this incredible and historic for trans awareness.