What does it mean to be cisgender?
To explain the meaning of the word “cisgender” in simple terms: any person born with a penis/testes/internal male reproductive organs and identifies as male is a cisgender male. Any individual born with a vagina/internal female reproductive organs and self-identifies as female is a cisgender female.
It may seem more simple to call individuals of these gender identities “male” and “female”. But the term cisgender was created with a purpose which is to make people more aware of everyone’s experiences of gender and to make our language more inclusive.
Cisgender relates specifically to gender identity rather than gender expression. Just by looking at someone, most likely, you cannot tell whether or not they are cisgender. Cisgender individuals can have any gender presentation.
The essentials and some history
The term “cisgender” was coined by an unknown author of an academic journal article in the 1990s. The word derives from the Latin prefix “cis-” (“on this side of” or “on the same side”) + “gender”. The creation of the term is credited to Carl Buijs by some people. Mr. Bujis proposed it in 1995; yet, the word “cisgender” had been already used on the internet before that.
Probably, it would be more correct to say that Carl Buijs is the first recorded source who gave this definition to the term.
It started gaining popularity in 2007 when the American writer and trans/bi activist Julia Serano mentioned the word “cisgender” in her controversial transfeminist book Whipping Girl. According to Ms. Serano, most cisgender people believe that everyone experiences gender in the same way. In other words, cisgender individuals, being absolutely comfortable with their sex assigned at birth and not wanting to change their gender project that experiences onto everybody else.
Obviously, this book has both critics and fans, just like the term “cisgender” itself. People who criticize this term, affirm that while gender is a spectrum, and not binary, “cis”, being the opposite of “trans”, enforces that binary.
In any case, it is now a word widely used by people who are interested in gender studies or sensitive to gender issues. The word “cisgender” has been generally accepted as a term and concept. In fact, in 2015, it was added to the Oxford English Dictionary.
Flag
There are several versions of the cisgender flag. The most popular one has three horizontal stripes. Their colors, from top to bottom, are gray, light gray, gray. The meaning of this flag is unclear.
Sexual orientation and cisgender
Gender identity is a collection of feelings and thoughts about one’s own gender. It may or may not match an individual’s sex assigned at birth (in this case, it does).
Sexual orientation is an enduring pattern of sexual arousals, romantic/emotional attractions, and a person's sense of identity that is based on these arousals and attractions. Some individuals are attracted to people of a specific gender, some others to people of multiple genders. Some others are not attracted to anyone. Cisgender people, just like anyone else, can have different sexual orientations - they can be straight, homosexual, bisexual, asexual, etc.
One of the reasons why the term “cisgender” is useful is that it helps people distinguish between sexual orientation and gender identity.
What pronouns should be used?
Most cisgender males, probably, prefer the traditional he/him/his pronouns, and cisgender females, she/her/hers. But they may also use they/them/theirs pronouns. If you are in doubt, ask your interlocutor what pronouns they use at the first opportunity you get.
Issues cisgender people struggle with today and how to solve them
The term “cisgender” helps us raise awareness that individuals whose gender identity is not cisgender usually face more challenges in our society than cisgender people. For instance, trans people report much higher levels of verbal and/or physical abuse than cisgender individuals.
However, it is wrong to think that gender inequality only affects individuals whose identity is outside the gender binary.
This kind of inequality can have grave consequences for everyone, including cisgender people. It is a well-known fact that many individuals who identify as women face gender-based discrimination, bias, violence. For instance, women are normally paid less than men; society basically perceives married women as the sexual property of their husbands and thus does not consider marital rape a crime; the thought of a woman not bearing children continues to be strange to many people, even in the West.
Not to mention some underdeveloped countries where women cannot dress as they like, drive, inherit property, give evidence in court. In countries like Mali, Egypt, Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, and some others, wives are still required by law to obey their husbands.
Anyway, traditional gender stereotypes are also harmful to men. For example, the role expected to be a “real man” is hard to live up to for many individuals who identify as male. Men are often severely penalized if they act outside the gender roles imposed by society. If they fail to be self-reliant, physically and emotionally strong, be the family’s only financial providers, or even just hold back their tears when they feel like crying, society perceives them as less likable and less hireable.
So, while normally it is cisgender people who are asked to support LGBTQIA+ individuals and be their allies, we invite you to fight for gender equality regardless of your gender identity and sexual orientation because it is a matter that should concern everybody worldwide.
Here is what each and every one of us can do to improve gender equality:
- Some people find it hard to recognize that discrimination and inequality really exist - this is why it is pivotal to become aware of our own unconscious biases, challenge them, and make everyone around us aware of the need to fight against them;
- In the workplace, promote diversity and encourage a safe environment for reporting discrimination and harassment;
- Judge people based on their merits, not on their gender.
Because everybody has the right to fair access to any job opportunities, receive equal salaries, and not be treated differently to individuals who belong to any other gender identity.