No, the hardest thing about being a woman is NOT deciding what to wear.
A powerful moving sisterhood is hard to have when we have females like Tomi Lahren and Caitlyn Jenner who are not for equal rights for everyone. Surprisingly, in 2017 there are still people (more shockingly, females) that do not support equality and positive political improvement. There are many females similar to Lahren and Jenner, which is frightening and disappointing because in an ideal world, it would be nice for all females to get along and bond over political views. Here, I am going to further discuss Caitlyn Jenner and her wrong perception on females and their daily lives/struggles that she is blind to. Jenner is a transgender Republican that has always had privilege as a white upper class male, which I can see why she does not understand oppression, racism, or sexism however her close-minded view is still not excusable.
“The hardest part about being a woman is figuring out what to wear.” Jenner says in an interview with Buzzfeed.
No Caitlyn Jenner, the hardest part about being a woman is NOT figuring out what outfit to wear, what make type of makeup to wear for the day, or picking out a pretty nail polish color. The hardest part about being a woman is living in fear of when one will be sexually harassed or physically/emotionally abused. The hardest part is walking alone at night afraid we will get raped or kidnapped. The hardest part is not being able to leave an abusive relationship due to fear or immigration status or death threats. The hardest part is leaving one’s house not knowing if she will be able to return home at night to tuck her children into bed and make it another day without getting deported. No Caitlyn Jenner, you have it all wrong, the hardest part about being a woman is not figuring out what to wear.
Women such as Jenner are difficult to encourage feminism upon because of their long history of privilege. But, if we cannot change their thinking, then we can change who is the spokesperson for women. In the NY Times, Elinor Burkett writes in “What Makes a Woman?” that Caitlyn Jenner should not represent women and their journey because she has not lived her whole life as a female and experienced the struggles women have. Jenner has always had money and has always been able to afford security to protect her but not every female can relate to her. Us women need to protect ourselves because we do not have bodyguards with us at all times. In addition, Burkett does defend transgender rights but does not believe that some transgender motives are feminist appropriate. And transgenders might not see their motives as wrong because, as Burkett continues to defend, brains are formed by the experience, location, and and culture of a person. Jenner has only known of white upper class privilege so obviously she cannot relate to a woman of color that has been oppressed. Overall, supporters need to know their place when speaking on the behalf of a large group.
Bell Hooks covers the issue of oppression against women and the role Sisterhood plays within females in, “Sisterhood: Political Solidarity Between Women.” Hooks begins her opening sentence stating the fact that women are the most victimized by sexist oppression. Women are able to form a sisterhood based on similar experience of oppression. Although, Hooks writes that sisterhoods are formed based on similar oppression and similar victimization, that should not be the only reason why women are coming together. Women are divided within each other by skin color, class privilege, and sexual orientation but that should not stop women from joining together. Every woman is different because of their different experiences in life but every single woman can still come together to share their similar political views.
Hooks shares a couple of reasons why women form sisterhoods such as experiencing similar oppression or having similar enemy’s. Both of the reasons Hooks shares does not give sisterhood a positive connotation. For example, in the comedy film Bridesmaid, a sisterhood is formed within all of the bridesmaid as they encounter a stressful drama filled wedding planning. Two of the bride’s closest friends fight with one another to receive the title of Maid of Honor and bestest of friend. Bridesmaid gives a bad perception on Sisterhood and continues the idea of Sisterhood as females coming together to bond over things they hate.
The most powerful statement in Hooks’ writing is, “… we can bond on the basis of our political commitment to a feminist movement that ends sexual oppression.” Caitlyn Jenner and Hollywood’s version of Sisterhood do not give women a positive image on ending sexist oppression but when we educate and correct what is wrong, then the proper message and image can be given out.
