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| '''Cisgender''' ({{IPA2|sɪs dʒɛn dɝ}}, from Latin ] and ]) is a concept in ] that labels persons who are not ] as something other than simply "normal". That is, it provides a name for a ] or performance in a ] that society considers to match or be appropriate for one's ]. |
'''Cisgender''' ({{IPA2|sɪs dʒɛn dɝ}}, from Latin ] and ]) is a concept in ] that labels persons who are not ] as something other than simply "normal". That is, it provides a name for a ] or performance in a ] that society considers to match or be appropriate for one's ]. | ||
| ==History== | ==History== | ||
Revision as of 11:17, 2 June 2006
Cisgender (IPA: [sɪs dʒɛn dɝ], from Latin cis and gender) is a concept in queer studies that labels persons who are not transgender as something other than simply "normal". That is, it provides a name for a gender identity or performance in a gender role that society considers to match or be appropriate for one's sex.
History
Cisgender was probably named by Carl Buijs, a transsexual man from the Netherlands, in 1995. Along with the less commonly used term cissexual, the idea of cisgender originated as a way to shift the focus off of a marginalized group, by defining not only the minority group but also the majority. This is based upon the hypothesis that categorizing everyone will illustrate a difference between equal alternatives, whereas singling out the minority group implies some deviance, immorality, or defect on the part of the labeled group. Some transgender people hope that the use of the word cisgender will increase mainstream acceptance and eventually remove the taboos. Others point out that the term heterosexual is very widely used but seems to have done little for the gay rights movement. However, prior to 1995, there was no standard word used to describe non-transgender people without the use of negative prefixes while still avoiding terms like "normal", "born" or "genetic" (women or men).
Current usage
Many (particularly transsexual-inclusive) communities use the term non-transsexual or non-trans, perhaps because the more scientific-sounding term "cisgendered" has not yet gained popularity or widespread usage in everyday English. Other groups, however, consider it inappropriate to define any group by what they are not.
Many transgender people prefer "cisgender" to "biological", "genetic", or "real" male or female because of the implications of those words. Using the term "biological female" or "genetic female" to describe cisgendered individuals excludes transgendered men, who also fit that description. To call a cisgendered woman a "real woman" is exclusive of transwomen, who are considered within their communities to be "real" women, also.
The word is rarely used by people outside communities concerned with transgender issues, and thus, it is not often used to self-identify, although its meaning does accurately describe a (probably little-considered) aspect of their identities. On the other hand, because so few people who are described by this term use it to self-identify, it can sometimes be thought of as an epithet.
Other usage
Transgendered individuals are sometimes called trannies as a term of disparagement, and clipping cisgender in the same way creates the ironic pun cissies, a play off the derogative term sissy.
See also
References
- Matthews, Donna Lynn. What Is Intergendered? October 1998, retrieved 24 November, 2005.
- Transsexual Roadmap. Transgendered Glossary. 1996-2005, retrieved 24 November, 2005.
- The Mirror Cracked by Carl Buijs