In recent years, as the world has begun to have more open discussions about gender and identity, the term cisgender – or cis for short – has become more widely used. Many cis men and women are unfamiliar with the term, and some are still trying to figure out what it means and how to use it.
To understand what the term “cisgender” means, you must first understand the distinction between sex assigned at birth and gender identity.
According to Merriam Webster, a cisgender person is someone whose gender identity corresponds with the sex the person had or was identified as having at birth.
Jesse Kahn, LCSW, CST, director and sex therapist at The Gender & Sexuality Therapy Center in New York City, agrees.
To truly understand what that definition is saying, you must first understand what gender identity is and what sex is assigned at birth. So, let’s get started.
Most people believe that sex and gender are interchangeable, but sex is not the same as gender.
Sex—often denoted as male or female—is a category used to identify the set of characteristics (such as hormones, chromosomes, and genitals) that a person possesses.
Males are typically associated with characteristics such as a penis, XY chromosomes, and testosterone as their primary sex hormone. Females are commonly thought to have a vagina, XX chromosomes, and estrogen as their primary sex hormone.
The sex on a person’s birth certificate is also known as their natal sex or the sex assigned at birth.
What is the difference between sex and gender?
While a person’s sex is determined primarily by external, visible markers, gender is determined by an internal understanding of oneself. Gender refers to how you identify yourself apart from your physical body.
“Gender can be a tool to better understand yourself, your behaviors, your feelings, your thoughts, and your desires,” says Zachary Zane, sex expert, journalist, and BoySlut founder.
“But if you’re feeling limited by it—say you identify as a cis man, and because of that, don’t feel comfortable embracing your femininity—then screw gender,” says Zane. “Be who you want to be without feeling obliged to define your gender.”
What does cisgender mean?
A person is cisgender if the sex assigned to them at birth corresponds to their gender.
“Someone is cisgender if they were assigned male at birth (AMAB) and now identify as a man, or if they were assigned female at birth (AFAB) and now identify as a woman,” explains Stephen Quaderer, CEO of ThotExperiment and creator of hookup app Headero.
So, if you’re wondering if you’re cisgender, you need to know your sex assigned at birth and your gender.
The prefix ‘cis’ refers to being on the same side. So, a cisgender person has a gender that is the same as the sex they were assigned at birth.
The prefix ‘trans’ refers to being on the other side. So, a transgender person has a gender that is opposite the sex they were assigned at birth.
Cisgender and transgender are typically considered binary categories. There is frequently an assumption that someone must be one or the other. However, not everyone feels validated by either term.
Is cisgender a slur?
While the term “cisgender” has now entered the English language as an accepted descriptor of gender identity, some groups, including Elon Musk have claimed that it is a slur. This is not correct.
According to a subject matter expert, It serves “the same purpose as any other adjective—it simply tells us that you identify with the gender you were assigned at birth”.
“It acts to normalize trans existences by becoming a descriptor for those who do not identify as trans and may have previously used othering or stigmatizing words like ‘normal’.”
A slur is defined as “an insulting or disparaging remark or innuendo” that has a “shaming or degrading effect” by Merriam-Webster.
Cisgender is not derogatory or insulting. So, another answer to the question ‘What is cisgender?’ is that it is an accepted and important way to explain gender identities that correspond to the sex assigned at birth.
If calling someone “cis” is a slur, we must also claim that calling someone “straight” is a slur.
These are adjectives that help us describe the gender and sexual identity spectrum; while some people may not like them, that does not mean they are offensive.