The term “transgender” has gained significant visibility in recent years, and with it, a contrasting term has become increasingly common: “cisgender.” Cisgender, often shortened to “cis,” describes individuals whose gender identity aligns with the sex they were assigned at birth. In simpler terms, if you’ve always felt that the sex you were labeled at birth – whether “girl” or “boy” – accurately reflects your internal sense of self, then you are likely cisgender. The majority of people identify as cisgender.
Understanding Cisgender: Visual representation of a baby announcement declaring 'It's a Boy!' and 'It's a Girl!', illustrating the alignment of sex assigned at birth with gender identity in cisgender individuals.
To understand cisgender more fully, it’s helpful to contrast it with “transgender.” While cisgender individuals experience a match between their gender identity and sex assigned at birth, transgender individuals experience a mismatch. The term “transgender” broadly encompasses people whose gender identity differs from their sex assigned at birth. This can include individuals whose gender identity is the opposite of their assigned sex (for example, someone assigned female at birth who identifies as a man), as well as those who identify outside of the traditional gender binary of male and female. These broader identities can include people who feel their gender is both male and female, neither, or somewhere else entirely on the gender spectrum. Understanding both cisgender and transgender is crucial for a comprehensive grasp of gender identity.
The Origins of ‘Cisgender’: A Look at its History
While “transgender” has been in use since around 1970, “cisgender” is a more recent term, emerging in the 1990s. Evidence suggests its usage dates back to 1994. The term “cisgender” is built upon the prefix “cis-,” which originates from Latin and means “on this side of.” This prefix is used in contrast to “trans-,” meaning “across” or “beyond.” In the context of gender, “cis-” signifies that an individual’s gender identity remains “on the same side” as, or aligned with, their sex assigned at birth. This linguistic construction mirrors other uses of “cis-” in fields like chemistry and geography, where it denotes “on the same side.”
Is ‘Cisgender’ a Slur? Examining the Term’s Usage
A slur is defined as a word or phrase intended to insult or demean someone. While the meaning and connotation of words can evolve over time, current evidence indicates that “cisgender,” along with its variations like “cisgendered” and “cis,” is overwhelmingly used in a neutral and descriptive manner. It is intended to be a parallel term to “transgender,” providing a way to describe the experiences of individuals whose gender identity aligns with their sex assigned at birth, just as “transgender” describes those whose gender identity differs. While any term could potentially be used in a derogatory way, the term “cisgender” itself is not inherently insulting and is widely accepted within academic, activist, and general discourse as a neutral and important descriptor in discussions of gender identity. Its purpose is to facilitate clear and respectful communication about the diverse spectrum of gender experiences.
