This week, Vanity Fair introduced Caitlyn Jenner, formerly known as Bruce, to the world with its July cover. By generating a million followers in only a few hours, her Twitter feed was said to have "broken" the Internet on Monday, which is to say lots of questions poured in about her name, pronouns, how to refer to her in past references and so on.
Here are a few highlights from my recent online chat, which are edited and condensed for clarity.
Pronouns: Then vs. now
Q: Should we all start using "Caitlyn" and female pronouns now? But shouldn't we all say "Bruce" and "he" when referring to moments in the past? It seems to me as if he was a "he" then and is a "she" now.
A: In the new Vanity Fair cover story, Caitlyn Jenner tells us that's her new name, which means we should now use it and these pronouns: she, her and hers. This is very much about respect. As for how to refer to her previously, it's OK to say something such as "Caitlyn Jenner, formerly known as Bruce Jenner," especially because she's so much in the public eye. Over time, as the name "Caitlyn" becomes more widely known, there will be little need to refer to "Bruce." In her case, this window may be especially short after she garnered more than 1 million Twitter followers in hours.
Also, I agree with GLAAD's advice when it comes to pronouns referring to events in the past. A tip sheet published this week notes, "Do avoid male pronouns and Caitlyn's prior name, even when referring to events in her past."
Here's a helpful analogy: We've all had friends who marry and change their names. It's a sign of respect to call them by their new married name. Continued stumbling — or a refusal to adopt someone's new name — is rightfully seen as a rejection of that person.
Stepmom or stepdad?
Q: I'm curious about Caitlyn's relationship with the Kardashians. Is he still their "stepfather" or is he now their "stepmother?" And what about her relationship to her mother. Is he still her "son" or now her "daughter"?
A: Good question. First off, the best and the easiest answer is to use the non-gendered title "stepparent." That's a simple way to avoid "stepmother" vs. "stepfather." Within a family, such as the Kardashians, this is likely to be a discussion because one answer doesn't fit all. In the hit Amazon show "Transparent," for instance, the adult kids use "Moppa," a portmanteau of Mama and Papa.
Caitlyn may want to continue to be thought of as the Kardashians' father or stepfather, and the family members may prefer that, too. Fine. Most importantly, it's up to the person who has transitioned to be clear about preferred references.
Ditto for Caitlyn's relationship with her mother. In fact, Esther Jenner told "Access Hollywood" Monday: "I still have to call him Bruce. His father and I named him that. ... It's going to be a struggle for me to get used to the change, but happily so. ... I'm very happy for him — or her!" Based on that, I'd imagine that Mrs. Jenner will refer to Caitlyn as her "son" for a while, though I'd expect her to refer to her as "her daughter" soon enough.
Asking about surgery
Q:I heard on the news that Caitlyn Jenner recently had some surgeries, including "facial feminization" surgery. Does that mean it's OK to ask a trans person about surgery if they talk about it first?
A: Nope. But this is just about the most common of what I'd call the "inappropriate" questions. As one transgender writer blogged: "What's important here is that not all trans people seek the same forms of treatment and that what treatment they do seek is deeply private information that should be left between them and their medical team and perhaps their closest family and friends."
Now, if someone has specifically discussed his or her sexual-reassignment surgery previously, then, as with any other procedure, it's fine to wish that person well or ask how that person is feeling, recovering, etc. But stay mindful of boundaries. Just because you may be curious is not license to step over them.
The Washington Post
Thu Jun 04 2015
Q&A on Caitlyn Jenner and how to treat her with the respect she deserves.
Microsoft labur AS1.7b di Indonesia untuk teknologi awan dan AI
Microsoft bakal melabur AS$1.7 bilion dalam tempoh empat tahun akan datang bagi pembangunan infrastruktur awan dan kecerdasan buatan di Indonesia, kata Ketua Pegawai Eksekutifnya Satya Nadella
Nadella sebagai berkata, pelaburan itu merupakan yang terbesar dalam sejarah 29 tahun Microsoft di negara itu.
Nadella sebagai berkata, pelaburan itu merupakan yang terbesar dalam sejarah 29 tahun Microsoft di negara itu.
Haiwan turut berisiko hadapi 'strok haba'
Gelombang haba yang melanda seluruh dunia memperlihatkan kesan jelas terhadap alam serta hidupan di muka bumi ini. Di Bangladesh misalnya, pengusaha-pengusaha kedai haiwan mencuba sedaya upaya untuk memastikan haiwan peliharaan di kedai mereka tidak mati dalam cuaca ekstrem ini.
Malaysia tewas 2-3 kepada Denmark pada aksi akhir kumpulan D
Malaysia dan Denmark masing-masing sudah pun melayakkan diri ke suku akhir selepas mencatat kemenangan 5-0 ke atas Hong Kong dan Algeria.
Fungsi JAKIM, Kementerian Perpaduan Negara berbeza - mohd na'im
Menteri di Jabatan Perdana Menteri (Hal Ehwal Agama) Datuk Dr Mohd Na'im Mokhtar menegaskan fungsi Jabatan Kemajuan Islam Malaysia (JAKIM) adalah berbeza dengan Kementerian Perpaduan Negara (KPN).
Sultan Nazrin dilantik pengerusi bagi tempoh dua tahun
Sultan Perak Sultan Nazrin Shah dilantik sebagai Pengerusi Majlis Kebangsaan Bagi Hal Ehwal Agama Islam Malaysia (MKI) bagi tempoh dua tahun berkuat kuasa 9 Mac 2024 hingga 8 Mac 2026.
JKN Terengganu siasat dakwaan kes keracunan makanan
Jabatan Kesihatan Negeri Terengganu sedang menyiasat dakwaan kes keracunan makanan selepas dipercayai menjamah sejenis kuih membabitkan beberapa individu termasuk kanak-kanak.
Remaja warga asing samun, menyamar pegawai polis ditahan
Polis menahan remaja lelaki pemegang kad Suruhanjaya Tinggi Pertubuhan Bangsa-bangsa Bersatu bagi Pelarian (UNHCR) kerana disyaki terbabit dengan kegiatan samun dan menyamar sebagai anggota polis.
Pesawah mengaku tidak bersalah
Seorang pesawah mengaku tidak bersalah di Mahkamah Sesyen Butterworth atas pertuduhan memuat naik mesej berbau hasutan mengaitkan Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Ibrahim dengan aktiviti perjudian dalam satu kumpulan WhatsApp, lima hari lalu.
Terengganu tidak bincang cadangan hukuman sebat di khalayak - Azalina
Tiada sebarang perbincangan di antara Kerajaan Negeri Terengganu dan Kerajaan Persekutuan tentang cadangan pelaksanaan hukuman sebat bagi kesalahan syariah di khalayak atau tempat awam.
90 kes direkod di Kelantan dalam tempoh empat bulan
Polis Kelantan merekodkan 90 kes jenayah seksual di negeri itu dalam tempoh empat bulan pertama tahun ini.
Kartun Family Guy pernah 'ramal' Bruce Jenner tukar jantina
Transisi Bruce Jenner kepada Caitlyn Jenner pernah diramalkan siri televisyen popular, Family Guy beberapa tahun dahulu.
Kris, Bruce Jenner berpisah sejak setahun lalu
Pasangan suami isteri realiti TV popular, Kris dan Bruce Jenner sebenarnya sudah berpisah sejak setahun lalu.