For years, Hollywood has portrayed transgender individuals in a negative light. From Caitlyn Jenner’s shocking Vanity Fair cover story to the controversy surrounding Laverne Cox’s Orange Is the New Black, these stereotypes have kept people from accepting members of the LGBT community. But since the rise of the #metoo movement, we’re seeing a cultural shift.
The actor Robert Pattinson has been at the center of this change. Now, the 28-year-old star is revealing that he is actually a transgender man. Is this just a publicity stunt? Or does Robert truly identify as a woman?
Robert’s Early Years
Before transitioning, Robert was born into a wealthy family and was raised in a traditional British setting. He attended prestigious schools in London and later studied drama at Oxford University. In 2016, he released a memoir about his early years, titled Down Boys: Stories From My Life. In it, he talks about struggling with gender identity as a young child. He writes that he would dress up in women’s clothing as a way of expressing his feelings, especially when he went to preschool. One of his earliest memories is of going to the toy store and asking for a ‘girl’ doll.
The Vanity Fair Cover Story That Started A Revolution
The fact that Robert has chosen to come out as transgender now may be a publicity stunt. In 2016, he was featured in Vanity Fair’s annual Hollywood Issue. The cover itself was billed as a ‘transformation story’, and it centered on Caitlyn Jenner, who had recently come out as the most high-profile transgender person in the world. The issue also featured a spread on the ‘Next Gen’ — the children of celebrity parents — including Elle and Nate, Charlie Sheen’s daughter, and Gigi and Ariana Grande’s twin girls.
Robert’s Family Issues
In his memoir, Robert talks about the lack of understanding he experienced from his family, particularly his twin brother, Charlie. The two were very close as children, with Robert describing himself as “a little sister figure” to Charlie. But as they got older, their personalities began to diverge. Charlie became interested in sports and making money, while Robert developed a taste for “art and literature and [being] with people”. Even after they became adults, the two were still very different. While Charlie went on to become a stockbroker and married an attorney, Robert was seen as an “oddity”, according to the book. It was not until Charlie’s death in 2014 that Robert came out to his family as transgender. In his obituary, he revealed that he had been struggling with depression for most of his adult life. The revelation did not go over well with Robert’s mother, Marjorie, who died just three months later. In her final interview, she said that she did not believe her son was transgender and that she thought he had merely “played” with gender roles as a form of escapism. She also criticized Charlie for being “too friendly” with the press.
Is Robert Pattinson Transgender?
Since his coming out as transgender, Robert has taken an active role in helping to change public perceptions about the community. He has addressed the subject in numerous interviews and partnered with various charities to raise awareness about the issues facing the LGBT community. Many celebrities have come out as transgender in the past year, including Kate Winslet, Evan Rachel Wood, and Laverne Cox. But is Robert really transgender?
Let’s examine the evidence.
Physical Appearance
The most obvious sign of transgenderism is the physical appearance of the person. If a man dresses in women’s clothing, it usually means he is transgender. One of the main problems with the outdated ‘bathroom bill’ is that it does not take into account the physical appearance of the person using the bathroom. A person’s appearance alone is not enough to determine their gender. For example, Bruce Jenner does not necessarily look like a woman, and neither does Robert Pattinson. They might both look like men to you, but that does not make them transgender. There are also examples of people who pass as a particular gender but do not actually feel like that gender. Transgenderism is about an individual’s inner identity; it is not necessarily reflected in their physical appearance.
Behavior And Attitude
Another important consideration is the person’s behavior and attitude. Does the individual behave and speak in a way that is typically associated with their assigned gender? If so, then they could be transgender. It is often said that children between the ages of two and four are the most affected by the gender they are given at birth. This is because during that time period, they are not yet aware of the concepts of ‘boy’ and ‘girl’, so their behavior is easily influenced by societal stereotypes. For example, if a girl is seen as ‘dainty’ and likes to wear pretty dresses, she might start acting and behaving like a ‘girl’ even if she was born a ‘boy’.
There are, however, people who identify as transgender but do not necessarily behave or think in a way that is associated with that identity. For example, Caitlyn Jenner may physically resemble a woman, but she still prefers to be referred to as ‘he’ and speaks in a deep baritone. These are two important factors to consider when trying to determine someone’s gender.
Hormones
Besides physical appearance, another way of determining someone’s gender is by looking at their hormones. If a person has female hormones, they are considered to be a woman. However, if they have male hormones, they are still considered to be a man. This is because the physical aspects of being a woman can be altered through hormones or surgery. For example, estrogens can change a person’s voice and make them behave and look like a woman. This is why medical professionals often run tests to determine a person’s hormones before making any assumptions about their gender.
It would therefore be unwise to assume that just because a person is physically female that they are transgender. There are many different reasons why someone’s body might not match their gender identity, and it is essential to determine the root of the problem so that they can be helped.
Robert’s Sexual Orientation
Besides being transgender, Robert is also gay. This was not always the case. In his early years, he was seen as somewhat of a ‘surfer bro’ due to his interest in and participation in dangerous sports. But he has always been passionate about and devoted to people he loves. In general, he is very happy to be partnered with someone, and he talks about the difficulty of being single in interviews. According to the book, he has a five-year plan to finally settle down. He also hopes to be a good father and has described himself as a “prince” and a “gentleman”.
Other Considerations
Besides physical appearance, behavior, and attitude, there are also other important factors to consider. Does the individual enjoy dressing in women’s clothing and doing makeup? If so, they could be transgender. Does the person have a strong sense of identity and feel secure enough in their own skin to refuse to identify with stereotypes? If so, they could be transgender. Does the individual have a history of depression or emotional issues? If so, they might be at risk of committing suicide and should be considered for help. Does the person have a history of drug or alcohol abuse? If so, they might be in the early stages of a substance abuse problem and should be considered for help. Does the individual have a history of violence? If so, they could be at risk of being violent themselves and should be considered for help. People with these issues must be given the proper support and treatment so that they can be helped.
As a transgender man, Robert has experienced a great deal of discrimination and backlash from the public, especially since his coming out. But he has also inspired people with his bravery and spoken openly about personal issues that many people feel is too private to speak about. Since his coming out, Robert has received numerous messages of support from all over the world, and he is trying to make the most of this platform and be a rolemodel to those who need it.