It’s a tactic we’re not quite familiar with when it comes to the Kardashian-Jenner family. When 20-year-old Kylie Jenner became pregnant with her first child, she didn’t announce, confirm, or deny that she had a bun in the oven. She simply disappeared.
Unlike her pregnant sisters before her — Kim Kardashian, Kourtney Kardashian, and Khloé Kardashian (even Rob Kardashian’s ex-fiancée Blac Chyna) — Kylie chose not to reveal her pregnancy on an episode of the fam’s E! reality TV show Keeping Up With the Kardashians. Unlike Kourt, Kylie didn’t snag a magazine deal to reveal the first picture of her baby. Unlike Kim, Kylie didn’t reveal the first pic of her babe on her mother’s talk-show either. (But to be fair, that wasn’t an option for Kylie — the momager’s talk-show Kris is now defunct due to poor ratings.)
There was no deal, no financial gain — not even a simple confirmation or single interview. Kylie‘s super private way of going about her pregnancy (and birth, which she did not announce ’til three days after little Stormi Jenner arrived), begs the question: Was her pregnancy feminist?
https://www.instagram.com/p/Be3rTNplCHf/?hl=en&taken-by=kyliejenner
The very definition of feminism dictates the advocacy of women’s rights on the grounds of political, social, and economic equality to men. It’s advocating for the equality of the sexes. By largely disappearing from social media, the public, the press, and E!, Kylie took back her power. She experienced her pregnancy with her boyfriend Travis Scott and her family — the way she personally felt best to experience it. Since feminism is all about women making their own decisions based on whatever feels right and good to them, the case can certainly be made that Kylie Jenner had the most feminist pregnancy of all the Kar-Jenners.
Kylie did not hand her power over to TMZ, to paparazzi, to a network, to magazines. She kept her most vulnerable, life-changing moments of her life private. She spent it with the people who were really going to matter in little Stormi Webster’s life — her boyfriend Travis Scott and her family.
Kardashian family friend Hailey Baldwin has publicly hailed Ky for handling her pregnancy with grace and maturity. Hailey said,
“I’m super excited for her. I think that she’s so awesome for doing this the way that she’s done it. I think it was a really mature way for her to have handled this whole thing. Being 20 and welcoming a child into the world is not an easy thing for anybody, so I mean she’s going to be the best mom ever.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/BeycdselrTe/?hl=en&taken-by=kyliejenner
But it’s not just Hailey applauding Kylie’s privacy and maturity. Much of the public is praising Kylie for choosing to experience her pregnancy and birth privately. Though there was a ton of speculation and frustration when Kylie was still pregnant and refusing to confirm, many peoples’ perceptions changed when they realized the youngest of the Kar-Jenner clan never used her pregnancy for an opportunity of financial gain. In fact, it’s a move that earned the lip kit mogul an exorbitant amount of respect.
Considering Kylie Jenner grew up with a camera in her face I’m sure not by choice, I respect her for guarding her mental, spirit, and peace during her pregnancy. If she wanted the attention she coulda easily got it. She guarded that baby the best she could.
— Raven UnoDiez (@Ravey_baby) February 7, 2018
She guarded baby Stormi in utero. She protected her from paparazzi, from the press, from deals. She actively chose not to profit from her personal life. She kept her pregnancy intimate and as the above tweet states, guarded that baby in the best possible way she could.
Kylie did not experience the paparazzi sh*t storm Kim handled during her pregnancy with her first child, North West. The paps used to quite literally chase Kim down (to the point where it was a safety hazard). Kylie did not experience the bullying in the press that Kim did. There were no pictures of Kylie’s pregnancy, so the press could not body-shame her, nor could commenters or internet trolls. Ultimately, Kylie safeguarded herself, her family, and her baby.
And when she did decide to finally share her pregnancy journey, it was on her own terms. After Stormi was born, Kylie released a sweet, emotional video on Youtube where friends and family gave messages of support and love to Kylie and the new baby.
It’s respectable. It’s mature. It’s whole-hearted and genuine.
Kylie did exactly what she thought was the right thing to do for her family, herself, and her baby. That’s feminist as f*ck. Congratulations, Ky!
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