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Wednesday, May 10, 2017

The Secrets of My Life - Caitlyn Jenner

I picked up the Caitlyn Jenner's "The Secrets of My Life" book shortly after it came out a few weeks ago. I am about 1/2 of the way through.  A compelling read no, but has interesting sections. 

I have always contended that when a group of transgender individuals start telling stories of learning, acceptance and coming out, one person can start the story and another can pick the story up mid-sentence and continue.  Thus we go around the room all telling the same story. Yes, the details are different.  

Thus Caitlyn Jenner is relating the universal transgender accounting of past events. I am amazed at her naivety. All of us went through stages of hiding, sealing opportunities (plus clothes/makeup) to get dressed and have clandestine forays. Caitlyn relates how she would get dress in her hotel room, fearfully ride the elevator to the lobby and the walk around before heading back up to her room. Stolen moments of female validation.  

Her accounting of packing her female and male clothes for a trip is a story we all can relate to - almost the same details.    

Caitlyn's limited contact with the transgender community is evident. She is relating universal stories. It is sad that her overwhelming fear prevented her from getting help sooner. We all tend to be intelligent and discover, out of necessity how to cope. Again her naivety cause her to relate these events as she is the only one to ever do this. Anyone not transgender is going to find these uninteresting and those of us transgender are go have the duh moment.

If you interested from a biography prospective how the, then Bruce Jenner grew up, the the book seem to touch all the bases; history about father, family, children etc.  It is quite honest.  

In her book review RACHEL GIESE, stated this:

Like Caitlyn Jenner herself, The Secrets of My Life is both compelling and maddening.

...Had Jenner had a braver temperament, had she searched for community earlier in 1989 instead of 2009, there would be support groups and websites and a vast and vibrant trans rights movement to tap into. Instead, Jenner’s struggles were largely solitary. As a result, she has little insight to offer beyond her own experience and a limited engagement in the struggles of others.
     




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