Caitlyn Jenner's Beauty and our Transmisogynistic Society

This is the Vanity Fair cover we all have seen for the issue in which Caitlyn introduced who she really was. This image is the moment the world knew Caitlyn for the first time. What I aim to address here is a few things but most specifically, this will all be centered around one nagging comment we here over and over again about Caitlyn Jenner, about Laverne Cox, and about almost all trans women.

"Wow! She looks better than me!"

Many girls have said this. I know I have said it about both Laverne Cox as well as several trans models. When it's said, it isn't meant to be harmful, it comes from a good, but uneducated place. Now that I have been made aware of why it is so problematic, I don't say it anymore. So similarly to what I said in my post, "Phobias and Isms in Disguise", sometimes when people say harmful things they just need to be taught why it was offensive.

Why is this offensive though? That's a compliment, right? While self deprecating (which we will get to later of course), you commented on how lovely of a woman she is! Here is the problem: think for a minute about the most gorgeous cisgender female celebrity you've ever seen. *Do you think she is prettier than you? If so, does that shock you? Probably not. When we see beautiful cisgender women, we may remark on her physical beauty, but we say it as an independent statement, not up against ourselves. Not that we ever should, but since we do, it becomes troubling when we do it with a trans woman. Why shouldn't she look good? Why shouldn't she be beautiful? Gender is a social construct. Genitals determine your sex. They are sex organs, not gender organs. What's in your pants does not determine your gender. A trans woman, is a real woman and it isn't any less likely for her to be gorgeous than you, or Mila Kunis, or Jennifer Lawrence, or anyone.

When you react with shock that Caitlyn or Laverne are beautiful women, you are saying it like you are looking at a man and can't believe how pretty he is. That isn't the case. You are looking at a woman, plain and simple.