Bruce Jenner’s Family Not Really Accepting Gender Transition? Still Call Bruce A Man, Use Masculine Terms

The Kardashian and Jenner families are finally opening up about Bruce Jenner’s transition to a woman. Though some of the family members have come out with supportive words for Bruce, it seems apparent that the family isn’t quite ready to let go of their dad’s masculine identity just yet. Both the Jenners and Kardashians still refer to Bruce as a man and use masculine terms such as he and his when discussing their support.

Recently, Kendall Jenner broke her silence about her father’s transition to a woman to USA Today. Kendall notes that Bruce is “a wonderful man.”

“I love my dad. He’s always been there for me and my sisters. He’s a wonderful man. And just because he’s changing shoes now, so to speak, doesn’t make him less wonderful. I will always love my dad, whether he’s a man or a woman.”

Similarly, Khloe Kardashian announced her support of Bruce’s transition in an interview with Hollywood Life. Khloe says that she respects Bruce’s decision and will adapt to the changes.

“Bruce has told her he’s choosing to leave Bruce behind and live his life as a woman and out of respect for that, Khloe’s adapting and seeing him as a woman.”

Though Khloe says she is “adapting to see him as a woman,” the use of the word “him” in reference to Bruce shows that Khloe still views the Jenner as a male for the time being.

However, there seems to be a good reason for Bruce’s family to continue using masculine terms as Bruce, though in transition to becoming a woman, has not given up his masculine identity just yet. GLAAD, an organization that works to bring equality for the LGBT community, notes that the transition period for transgender individuals is a process. Part of that process is deciding when to use a different name or pronoun.

“Altering one’s birth sex is not a one-step procedure; it is a complex process that occurs over a long period of time. Transition includes some or all of the following personal, medical, and legal steps: telling one’s family, friends, and co-workers; using a different name and new pronouns; dressing differently; changing one’s name and/or sex on legal documents; hormone therapy; and possibly (though not always) one or more types of surgery. The exact steps involved in transition vary from person to person.”

Though Bruce is in transition to becoming a woman, it seems that he is not quite ready to call himself a “she” just yet. Page Six reports that Bruce Jenner sat down with Diana Sawyer to discuss his transition to becoming a woman. In the interview, it is said that Bruce revealed the female name he will be using once his transition is complete. It was noted that, during the interview, Bruce referred to the female name in the third person.

What do you think about the family’s response to Bruce Jenner’s gender transition?