Tag: cisgender

The term cisgender, which is used to describe a person whose gender identity corresponds with their sex assigned at birth, was coined in 1994. The prefix “cis-” comes from Latin and means “on this side of.” The term has been subject to critique and controversy. Cisgender is the opposite of transgender. The term was added to the Oxford English Dictionary in 2015. Facebook started offering custom gender options in 2014, including cisgender. Medical academics have recognized the importance of the term in transgender studies since the 1990s. Other derivatives of the term include cis male, cis female, cis man, and cis woman. The term “cissexism” refers to the belief that transsexual individuals’ identified genders are inferior to those of cissexual individuals. The concept of “cisgender privilege” refers to the unearned advantages that individuals with cisgender identities have in society. The use of the term cisgender has been controversial, with some critics arguing that it is as problematic as the masculine-feminine gender binary. Additionally, there is some confusion regarding the term in relation to intersex individuals. The text discusses the term “cisgender” and its relationship to gender identity and intersex individuals. It critiques the term’s basis on a binary sex model that does not account for intersex people. The text also mentions the use of the term “sex assigned at birth” without acknowledging that babies are assigned male or female regardless of intersex status. It argues that this obfuscates the birth of intersex babies and fails to address gender-based discrimination against intersex individuals. The prefix “cis-” means “on this side of” in Latin. Related concepts are cisnormativity and cissexism. The term was used in German sexology in 1914 and was later coined in English in 1994 in a Usenet newsgroup. Some derivatives of the term include cis male, cis female, cis man, and cis woman. Cissexism is the belief that transsexuals’ identified genders are inferior to those of cissexuals. The term cisgender privilege refers to the advantages that individuals with a cisgender identity accrue. However, the term cisgender has been met with criticisms, as some prefer the term non-trans, finding it clearer to understand. The article discusses criticism of the term “cisgender” and its lack of inclusivity towards intersex individuals. The author argues that the term is based on a binary sex model that does not account for the existence of intersex people. They also critique the use of the term “sex assigned at birth” without acknowledging that intersex babies are also assigned a male or female label. The author believes that this framing perpetuates discrimination against intersex individuals. The article also briefly mentions a personal essay in which the creator of the term, Dana Defosse, defends the term and claims it only revealed existing problems.