Our C word for today is cisgender. Cisgender is the opposite of
transgender. A cisgender person does not
have gender dysphoria, their identity and body match (some people prefer the
term non-trans, feeling it is easier to understand for laymen). Cis is the Latin prefix meaning “on this side
of” as opposed to trans meaning “across from” or “on the other side of”.
The transgender activist Julia Serano adds the term
cissexual as being someone who’s body and identity have always been aligned. She then defines cisgender as anyone who does
not identify as transgender (many transgender people prefer to simple identify
as men and women after their transition).
The prefix cis has recently been used to further define and identify
the discrimination transgender people experience. For example, cisgender privilege is the privileges
that come with being cisgender (easier to be hired, not afraid to use public
restrooms etc.) Cissexual assumption is
the assumption cisgender people have that everyone experiences their gender
identity like they do. Cissexism is a
new word for transphobia. Cisnormativity
is like heteronormativity, it is an overlaying social assumption that everyone
is cisgendered or that it is normal.
What does cisgender have to do with intersex? Many intersex people do not change their sex
from the one they were raised as, but many do. Is it impossible for intersex people to be
cisgender because it is impossible in society to live completely as in intersex
person with no male or female legal checkbox?
By definition are all intersex people forced to be a little
transgender? These are questions I ask
myself from time to time
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