What is to be ‘Cisgender’?

October 17, 2023

What is Cisgender?

Cisgender, or simply cis, (pronounced as “sis”) is a term used to denote a person who has the same gender identity as their sex assigned to them at birth. For example, if you’re born with a female genitalia and you identify your gender as a woman, then you’d be considered a cisgender. The key prefix ‘cis’ is Latin and translates to “on this side”, as opposed to ‘trans’ which means “on the other side”. It is a part of the LGBTQIA+ neologism which aims to conceptualize gender in our community.

This term is also vital to understand the determination or construction of gender identities through social and societal processes. While most people are cisgender, not all of them identify with their biological sex.

It is important to note that cisgender is not the same as being “straight”. Being cisgender does not mean that you cannot be a part of the LGBTQIA+ community. It’s totally possible for a person to be a cisgender as well as a homosexual. Cisgender is a term that is used to denote only the gender identity of a person, rather than their sexual orientations or romantic attractions.

Why Must I Use It?

The usage of the term “cisgender” becomes vital due to the existence of gender identities, beyond the conventionally accepted binary. There are transgenders, who have a different sex registered for them at birth, than the gender they identify with. This includes people who have a male genitalia, but can still identify their gender as that of a woman. Similarly, there are non-binary folks, who do not conform to the labels of either a man or a woman, very strictly. It is disrespectful to assume someone’s gender. An individual may be cis, but there is an equal possibility that they may be trans or non-binary too. Therefore, in order to be respectful to the diverse gender identities that inhabit our complex society, we should use gender-inclusive terms like “cisgender”. The assumption that everyone identifies as the gender they were assigned at birth, is erroneous. Such beliefs are called cisnormative, which consider being cisgender to be the norm (or something that is natural.) Consequently, those who do not conform to this standard are considered to be abnormal. Using this term is understood by the LGBTQIA+ community to be an act of power because it displaces cisgender people from the social ‘center’ or the mainstream, by underlining the fact that everyone has a gender identity, sex assignment, and gender expression or presentation, and not just those whose gender identities are marked with some additional modifier (like trans or gender queer people)

Then Why Does Twitter Consider It As A Slur

Twitter owner, Elon Musk, proclaimed that the word cisgender would be considered a slur on the platform. “Repeated, targeted harassment against any account will cause the harassing accounts to receive, at minimum, temporary suspensions,” wrote Mr Musk, “The words ‘cis’ or ‘cisgender’ are considered slurs on this platform”. Such a bizarre declaration comes in the aftermath of the already increasing hatred against indigenous and LGBTQIA community on the platform.

A handy-dandy dictionary would define the term slur as a word with derogatory connotations, uttered in an attempt to cause offense. For example, slurs can be racial. This includes the “N-word” which is offensive to African-Americans, especially when uttered by their historical oppressors, who happen to be white. What makes any term a slur, is its ability to cause offense and the historical baggage it comes with. Given that the term cisgender is relatively new, automatically excludes it from being a slur. Amy Ashenden, director of comms at LGBTQIA+ young people’s charity, Just Like Us, says, “Cisgender isn’t a cruel word by any means and not something we should be afraid of or demonize.”

There are also questions regarding who actually is offended by this term? This may include conservative people who do not believe in the division between gender and sex, and consider trans and non-binary gender expression as an ideological fad rather than as a natural occurrence. US advocacy group GLAAD designated Twitter as the most hateful platform towards the LGBTIQIA+ community. Such comments from the owner of the online platform has only aggravated the situation further, as hatred has massively increased against the transgender and non-binary people, according to Australia’s cyber watchdog.

Cisgender is not a slur. It’s a step forward for the mainstreaming of gender-inclusive and gender-affirming language.