Cisgender: What It Is and Why It Matters
Your guide to cisgender
Gender identity is not a telescope — it’s a kaleidoscope.
Cisgender may sound like it’s straight out of a sci-fi movie, but it’s a term that’s becoming more important in our daily conversations. In this guide, we’re going to lift the veil, decode the mystery, and discover what cisgender really means
And why it’s so important.
Defining Cisgender: What Is It?
Cisgender — No, it’s not some new type of trendy digital currency. And nope, it’s not a scientific term for a rare species of tree (but that sounds cool).
Rather, it’s a term that is used in gender studies and talks about one’s self-identity.
“Cisgender” means people who feel inside that they’re the same gender as what doctors said they were when they were born. If when you were born, the doctor announced “It’s a boy!” and now you see yourself as a man, you’re cisgender.
Similarly for “It’s a girl!” and you identify as a woman.
What Does “Cis” in Cisgender Mean?
According to the American Historical Association, “Cis” is a Latin word meaning “on this side of.”
In the context of cisgender, it refers to individuals who continue to identify as the gender of the “side” they were assigned at birth. It’s like saying, “Hey, I was born this way, and yep, it still fits me just fine.”
What Is a Cisgender Millennial?
Cisgender Millennial refers to a millennial (a person born between 1981 and 1996) who identifies with the sex they were assigned at birth. If you were born in these years, and your gender identity matches your birth sex, you’re a cisgender millennial.
But remember, these are just labels. You are much more than a label.
What Is an Intersectional Cisgender Millennial?
Alright, here’s where we take a fun little detour into the land of intersectionality.
Intersectionality is a concept that looks at how different aspects of a person’s identity can overlap and influence their experiences. An Intersectional Cisgender Millennial would be a millennial whose experience of being cisgender intersects with other aspects of their identity.
Aspects such as like their race, class, sexual orientation, or disability status.
Cisgender: What It’s Not
Now that we’ve established what cisgender is, let’s chat about what it’s not.
Being cisgender doesn’t mean you’re boring, unimaginative, or uncreative. Heck, no. (Who’s even making up these rules? Eye roll).
It just means that your gender identity matches the sex you were given at birth. And that’s okay. It’s just as okay as being transgender or non-binary. We’re all different, and that’s what makes the world such a colorful and exciting place.
Comparing Cisgender to Related Terms
In understanding cisgender, it’s helpful to consider its opposite, “transgender.” A transgender individual identifies with a gender that’s different the gender they were said to be when they were born.
WebMD explains it like this:
Transgender is when your gender identity differs from the sex on your birth certificate. In Latin, “cis” means “on this side,” while “trans” means “on the other side.”
Therefore, if a doctor announced “It’s a girl!” when you arrived in this world, but you identify as a man, you would be considered transgender.
Then there’s the term “non-binary,” which means that someone doesn’t identify as exclusively male or female. It’s like choosing the “none of the above” option on a multiple choice test (or “all of the above,” respectively).
There are many other labels that people may choose to identify with, based on how they feel inside. It’s all about personal experience, and it’s never a one-size-fits-all scenario.
Why Understanding Cisgender Matters
Okay, got it, but why does this cisgender thing matter?
Understanding the concept of cisgender is an important step towards acknowledging and respecting individual identities. It’s also key in fostering empathy, and nurturing a more inclusive society.
In today’s age, being aware of these terms is not only about being “woke,” it’s about recognizing the diversity of human experience.
Getting what “cisgender” means helps us learn about the many different ways people see themselves. This can help us break down clichés and fight for fairness.
What Is Cisgender Privilege?
Cisgender privilege is a term we use to talk about the benefits people get just because they’re cisgender.
It doesn’t mean their lives are all rainbows and unicorns (Who’s life is, really?).
Instead, it’s about things that cisgender folks often don’t need to worry about, but transgender or non-binary people might.
For example, cisgender people generally worry about things like being allowed to use the bathroom of their choice. Or whether people will use the right pronouns when they’re talking about them.
Or whether their ID cards match their true identity.
Those might seem like small things, but they add up. And if you’re not cisgender, they can be daily headaches (and heartaches).
When we talk about cisgender privilege, we’re talking about these kinds of “taken-for-granted” things that many cisgender people may not even realize they posses.
Acknowledging privilege isn’t about feeling guilty. It’s about understanding these hidden advantages, so we can work towards a more fair and equal society.
Wrapping It Up
To bring this guide home: It’s not about labeling or boxing people into categories. It’s about creating an open dialogue, fostering understanding, and making space for everyone to be authentically themselves.
No matter how you identify — cisgender, transgender, non-binary, or somewhere else on the beautiful spectrum of gender — know that your identity is valid and should be respected.
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