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Short for cisgender, the term “cis” refers to people who identify solely with the sex they were assigned at birth. It is thought of as the “opposite” of transgender, which refers to people whose gender does not align with the one they were presumed to be at birth. Though it can often be used in conjunction with a term like “straight,” “cis” refers to gender, not sexuality, which means it is not mutually exclusive or interchangeable with “straight.”
Even though it’s just one of many terms that can describe someone’s relationship to gender, some conservative pundits have willfully misconstrued its meaning, insisting that it’s used derogatorily, all as part of their battle against trans rights.
But language matters. The term “cis” didn’t enter common parlance until recently because in the past — before trans people were as visible as they are now — being cisgender was viewed as the unspoken norm. Having a word like “cis” is important because without it, there is an implication that the experience of trans and nonbinary people is not “normal” and that being cisgender is. Ultimately, saying that someone is cis isn’t an insult; it’s a way to name privilege and describe their relationship to and history with gender.
For anyone who wants to be an ally and just learn more about what cisgender means — and what it means when someone calls you cis — read on for answers to a list of frequently asked questions.
“Cis” itself doesn’t necessarily refer to a specific gender identity; rather, it describes an experience of, and relationship to, gender. For example, while “man” and “woman” are both gender identities, “cis” and “trans” indicate different experiences of those gender identities. For example, a trans man and a cis man are both men, but they likely have different experiences of how they came into manhood.
Words are important tools for describing the world around us and the different realities we all experience based on our identities. “Cisgender” is simply a word that allows people to describe their own experience of gender and, of course, it also has connotations of privilege and societal position. Particularly at a moment when trans youth are facing an onslaught of discriminatory legislation that targets their rights to healthcare and public existence, it's important to acknowledge the privilege cis people hold in notbeing targeted for their gender experience
That doesn’t mean cisgender people can’t be oppressed through other marginalized identities they hold like race or class, and it doesn’t mean cis folks don’t suffer. Using “cis” is just a descriptor for how we experience the world.
Again, cisgender and cis are not slurs, and the misinformation around the terms is likely due to the broadly anti-trans conservative campaign against basic descriptive language for those outside the majority. Contesting the need for a word like cis or cisgender implies that there is no reason for it because being cisgender or not trans is the default or “normal,” whereas being trans is “other” or “abnormal.”
Asking if someone is cis or trans, particularly in a public setting, can create an uncomfortable situation for everyone involved. When in doubt, just listen for context clues and be respectful. It’s also important to know that for many people, gender is a journey. Someone who thinks they are cis one day may come into themself and realize they are trans a year or two later. Or they might have known they were trans from a young age but only just have had the access and safety to come out to the people around them. What’s crucial to keep in mind is that you should meet people where they are at and respect the person in front of you rather than harping on someone’s past public identity. Coming out can be a long and winding path for many of us that isn’t easy or straightforward.
What Does “Cis” Mean, And Is It Bad?
Your Zoomer relative used it to refer to you, Elon Musk deemed it a slur in 2023, and now you might be scratching your head, wondering: “What does ‘cis’ mean, and why are people calling me that?”Short for cisgender, the term “cis” refers to people who identify solely with the sex they were assigned at birth. It is thought of as the “opposite” of transgender, which refers to people whose gender does not align with the one they were presumed to be at birth. Though it can often be used in conjunction with a term like “straight,” “cis” refers to gender, not sexuality, which means it is not mutually exclusive or interchangeable with “straight.”
Even though it’s just one of many terms that can describe someone’s relationship to gender, some conservative pundits have willfully misconstrued its meaning, insisting that it’s used derogatorily, all as part of their battle against trans rights.
But language matters. The term “cis” didn’t enter common parlance until recently because in the past — before trans people were as visible as they are now — being cisgender was viewed as the unspoken norm. Having a word like “cis” is important because without it, there is an implication that the experience of trans and nonbinary people is not “normal” and that being cisgender is. Ultimately, saying that someone is cis isn’t an insult; it’s a way to name privilege and describe their relationship to and history with gender.
For anyone who wants to be an ally and just learn more about what cisgender means — and what it means when someone calls you cis — read on for answers to a list of frequently asked questions.
What does “cisgender” mean?
“Cis” (pronounced sis) is short for cisgender, meaning you identify with the gender you were presumed to be at birth. For example, a cisgender woman is someone who was assigned female at birth and continues to identify as a woman throughout her life. The same applies for cisgender men: if someone was assigned male at birth and he continues to identify as a man throughout his life, he is cis.“Cis” itself doesn’t necessarily refer to a specific gender identity; rather, it describes an experience of, and relationship to, gender. For example, while “man” and “woman” are both gender identities, “cis” and “trans” indicate different experiences of those gender identities. For example, a trans man and a cis man are both men, but they likely have different experiences of how they came into manhood.
What does “cishet” mean?
“Cis” refers to gender experience whereas “het,” which is short for heterosexual, refers to sexuality. Not all cis people are het, as there are cisgender queer people. Not all het people are cis, as there are straight trans people. “Cishet” strictly refers to people who are both straight and cisgender. The term is not derogatory, it’s just naming a specific experience of gender and sexuality, which can be useful in discussions about how we move through the world.Why do we need a term for that?
From how to use them to their surprising history, here are answers to your most common questions about gender-neutral pronouns.Words are important tools for describing the world around us and the different realities we all experience based on our identities. “Cisgender” is simply a word that allows people to describe their own experience of gender and, of course, it also has connotations of privilege and societal position. Particularly at a moment when trans youth are facing an onslaught of discriminatory legislation that targets their rights to healthcare and public existence, it's important to acknowledge the privilege cis people hold in notbeing targeted for their gender experience
That doesn’t mean cisgender people can’t be oppressed through other marginalized identities they hold like race or class, and it doesn’t mean cis folks don’t suffer. Using “cis” is just a descriptor for how we experience the world.
Someone called me a “cisgender male.” Is cis a derogatory term?
The short answer is “no.” Like we said earlier, “cis” is just a descriptor for people who identify with the sex they were assigned at birth and is no more a slur than “trans.” If someone is calling you a “cis guy,” think about the context: Are they just naming this as a fact about you? Are they saying it to talk about a form of societal oppression you don’t experience (i.e. sexism, transphobia)? While it can be uncomfortable to think about privilege, it’s important to understand how you benefit from it. Like all words, “cis” can be a simple descriptor or it can be used critically to indicate positionality or privilege. Unfortunately, conservative figureheads like right wing commentator Jordan Petersonand technocrat Elon Musk have continued to attack the use of cis and spread misinformation about its truly benign meaning. X even went so far as to briefly flag and target the use of “cis” and “cisgender” as a violation to its community guidelines, just a year after Musk first announced the terms would be considered slurs if used on the social media platform. It is worth noting that these are the same guidelines that have not been enforced in cases of some racist, sexist, antisemitic, or transphobic slurs being used across the platform, as reported in TechCrunchAgain, cisgender and cis are not slurs, and the misinformation around the terms is likely due to the broadly anti-trans conservative campaign against basic descriptive language for those outside the majority. Contesting the need for a word like cis or cisgender implies that there is no reason for it because being cisgender or not trans is the default or “normal,” whereas being trans is “other” or “abnormal.”
How can you tell if someone is cisgender?
The short answer is: when he or she confirms it. Cisgender identity is not something you should be able to “tell” or presume — and often, it’s actually none of your business. What matters more is respecting people’s pronouns and personhood whether they’re cis or trans. Chances are, if you get to know a person, that information will reveal itself. Or, if it’s relevant to the conversation at hand, people may share that about themselves.Asking if someone is cis or trans, particularly in a public setting, can create an uncomfortable situation for everyone involved. When in doubt, just listen for context clues and be respectful. It’s also important to know that for many people, gender is a journey. Someone who thinks they are cis one day may come into themself and realize they are trans a year or two later. Or they might have known they were trans from a young age but only just have had the access and safety to come out to the people around them. What’s crucial to keep in mind is that you should meet people where they are at and respect the person in front of you rather than harping on someone’s past public identity. Coming out can be a long and winding path for many of us that isn’t easy or straightforward.
