Jazz gets several hate calls and texts calling her "freak" and "tranny freak." Bullying, discrimination, and hate crimes are frequently discussed; the show clearly portrays this behavior as abusive.
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Jazz talks about genitalia, breast size, and periods in relation to the gender-affirming procedures she goes through. She also shares her experiences of dating, including topics of virginity. Nothing sexual is shown on-screen.
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Children's book I Am Jazz is featured and promoted.
Positive Messages
a lot
Themes include acceptance of your authentic identity and family, as well as the importance of courage, communication, and empathy.
Positive Role Models
a lot
Jazz is brave and willing to speak out and share her story. She also works hard on resolving her own body image issues and navigates difficulties at school. Her family is extremely supportive: Mom Jeanette advocates for Jazz and ensures her daughter receives the care and respect she deserves, while dad Greg demonstrates great understanding of Jazz's wants and needs.
Diverse Representations
a lot
Centers on a transgender young woman, Jazz, as she navigates transitioning. She goes through gender-affirming surgeries and deals with other people's intolerance. The series shows her unique experiences around dating and going to school. Trans youth legislation, health care, and public education are also discussed. Jazz battles anxiety and depression with love and support from her family and friends. Her longtime friend Noelle is a White trans woman who goes through myriad challenges during the process of transitioning. The cast is predominantly White. But Jazz's ex-boyfriend Ahmir Steward is Black, has significant screen time, and supports Jazz on her journey.
Parents need to know that the reality series I Am Jazz follows a transgender woman sharing her experiences from attending high school to entering adulthood. There's lots of talk about boys, breast size, virginity, and dating in general, and much of it centers on coping with these issues as transgender people. Bullying and discrimination are discussed; the series shows Jazz getting hate texts and calls that address her and her transgender friends as "freaks" and "tranny freaks." Other language includes "piss" and "crap." The show highlights the challenging realities of growing up as a transgender woman, and courage, communication, and empathy are major themes. The series promotes Jazz's children's book I Am Jazz as well as media campaigns designed to support transgender youth.
When I first came across this show, I never expected to be impressed. In fact, I almost didn't watch it. I am not transgender and I grew up I'm the 90's when this type of situation was kept quiet. This is about a teenage girl who was born with a male body but from a young age exhibited signs of a female brain. She deals with everyday pressures that normal teens face on top of being treated poorly by many people that don't understand her situation. Jazz is extremely brave to share her story. She comes from a normal, loving family and has 3 non transgender siblings. She has helped write a children's book and is helping to raise money for other kids in her situation. This show teaches people that some people are different and that it's ok. It doesn't make them freaks or gross or scary. Jazz and her family are a delight to watch. This seems much more honest and down to earth than many of the reality TV shows I have previously watched. I gave this a 10 and up age rating because I know that many between 10 and 13 will struggle talking to someone about this if they are going through the same thing but afraid to speak up otherwise I would have rated it 13 and up for harsh language.
What's the Story?
I AM JAZZ is a reality series that starts with author and YouTube celebrity Jazz Jennings as she prepares to enter high school. Assigned male at birth, Jazz began her transition when she was five years old and has lived a happy life as a girl. But as she's getting older, she must deal with the challenges that come with puberty, including adjusting hormone treatment levels to prevent male development, becoming comfortable with meeting new people, and dating. Meanwhile, she must continue to cope with institutional ignorance and ongoing bullying. Luckily her parents, Greg and Jeannette, as well as her older sister, Ari, and twin brothers, Griffen and Sander, are there to support her every step of the way.
The overall series is largely uplifting, thanks to Jazz's honesty about who she is, and her efforts to be a role model to other transgender people. I Am Jazz weaves together conversations about clothes, makeup, and boys with a positive and uniquely personal story about a teen who's constantly negotiating her willingness to openly be herself and facing fears of being rejected or bullied because she's transgender. It also underscores the serious medical decisions she must constantly make to ultimately have the life she wants.
The picture painted here isn't an easy one, especially when Jazz and her parents describe the endless struggles they've had to face over the years and some of the concerns they have for the future. Bullying incidents captured on camera aren't easy to watch either.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about being transgender. What kind of challenges do trans people face on a daily basis? How can TV shows like I Am Jazz help?
Jazz's family is both supportive and financially stable. How do you think her life might be different if one of these factors changed?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
suggesting a diversity update.
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.