Cisgender

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Although etymologically unusual, the same terminology has been used in other fields, such as organic chemistry.  For example, [[trans fat|''trans'' fatty acids]] are unsaturated fatty acids where the hydrogen atoms on either side of the double-bond lie across from one another, while ''cis'' fatty acids are unsaturated fatty acids where the hydrogen atoms on either side of the double-bond stand next to each other. In geography, the historical [[Roman Empire|Roman]] Gaul was divided into Gallia Cisalpina (on the Italian side of the Alps) and Gallia Transalpina , while in [[South Africa]] under [[apartheid]] there were two "bantustans" on either side of the Great Kei River - Ciskei and Transkei.
 
Although etymologically unusual, the same terminology has been used in other fields, such as organic chemistry.  For example, [[trans fat|''trans'' fatty acids]] are unsaturated fatty acids where the hydrogen atoms on either side of the double-bond lie across from one another, while ''cis'' fatty acids are unsaturated fatty acids where the hydrogen atoms on either side of the double-bond stand next to each other. In geography, the historical [[Roman Empire|Roman]] Gaul was divided into Gallia Cisalpina (on the Italian side of the Alps) and Gallia Transalpina , while in [[South Africa]] under [[apartheid]] there were two "bantustans" on either side of the Great Kei River - Ciskei and Transkei.
  
A few [[Transphobia|transphobes]] have [[pseudolinguistics|tried to link it to]] "-cide" (as in homicide, genocide, gendercide);{{fact}} this suffix comes from the same root as Latin ''caedere'' "cut, kill" and is not believed to be related to ''cis'', which is a prefix.
 
  
 
==Offensive?==
 
==Offensive?==
  
It shouldn't be, although some [[Transphobia|transphobes]] consider it a slur (thus the false etymology listed above) -- something about identity denial, or something.  If you do come across someone who doesn't like being called "cisgender," you might ask them how they feel about being called "[[heterosexual]]"; why is one okay and not the other? (Those who ''aren't'' heterosexual but still dislike "cisgender" are outside the scope of our bias.)
+
It shouldn't be, although some people consider it a slur-- this is because of the negative connotation often associated with the word Cisgender on the [[Internet]].  
  
 
==Related terms==
 
==Related terms==
* '''Cissexism''', the belief that cisgender people are superior to transgender people. It is the equivalent of [[heterosexism]] regarding [[sexual orientation]]s.
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* '''Cissexism''', the belief that cisgender people are superior or "normal" compared to transgender people. It is the equivalent of [[heterosexism]] regarding [[sexual orientation]]s.
 
* '''Cisgender [[privilege]]''', the [[transgender]] analogue to male privilege, white privilege, able-bodied privilege, bourgeois-oppressor privilege, ''etc.''
 
* '''Cisgender [[privilege]]''', the [[transgender]] analogue to male privilege, white privilege, able-bodied privilege, bourgeois-oppressor privilege, ''etc.''
  

Revision as of 18:36, 3 March 2014

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Gender

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Spectra and binaries

Cisgender is an adjective[1] indicating that someone identifies with the gender that they were designated at birth. It is a neologism coined as the antonym to "transgender," and its first documented usage was on the Internet in 1994.[2]

Cisgender is a more precise term than "gender-normative", i.e., that someone has a "normal" gender for their assigned sex, as this can be confused with heteronormativity or the application of gender roles.

Contents

Etymology

The term was coined from a Latin preposition that indicates position relative to the speaker: cis means "on the same side", chosen by analogy to the existing word transgender, itself from trans which means "on the far side." In gender, this refers to whether your gender identity matches your gender designated at birth (i.e., designated female at birth, DFAB, or designated male at birth, DMAB) which helps smooth out any connotations involving "male-bodied" and "female-bodied" terms.

Although etymologically unusual, the same terminology has been used in other fields, such as organic chemistry. For example, trans fatty acids are unsaturated fatty acids where the hydrogen atoms on either side of the double-bond lie across from one another, while cis fatty acids are unsaturated fatty acids where the hydrogen atoms on either side of the double-bond stand next to each other. In geography, the historical Roman Gaul was divided into Gallia Cisalpina (on the Italian side of the Alps) and Gallia Transalpina , while in South Africa under apartheid there were two "bantustans" on either side of the Great Kei River - Ciskei and Transkei.


Offensive?

It shouldn't be, although some people consider it a slur-- this is because of the negative connotation often associated with the word Cisgender on the Internet.

Related terms

  • Cissexism, the belief that cisgender people are superior or "normal" compared to transgender people. It is the equivalent of heterosexism regarding sexual orientations.
  • Cisgender privilege, the transgender analogue to male privilege, white privilege, able-bodied privilege, bourgeois-oppressor privilege, etc.

See also

Footnotes

  1. Try using it in a sentence.
  2. Dana Leland Defosse (1994-05-26). "Transgender Research". Posted on alt.transgendered newsgroup.
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