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Despite Musk and Trump, the Word ‘Cisgender’ Is Here to Stay
It’s just Latin, not a conspiracy
Right-wing propagandists say they don’t like the term “cis”? Blame the Romans. It’s far from the “newly made up woke term” they think it is.
The term “cisgender” (or “cis” for short) has faced significant pushback in recent years, primarily from some cisgender people who feel uncomfortable being labelled as such. Many claim, “I’m not a cis male; I’m just a male,” or “I’m not a cis female; I’m just a female.” The argument often implies that the term “cis” somehow delegitimises their identity or forces them into alignment with transgender people. But let’s dig deeper into what “cis” actually means — and why it’s become such a controversial word.
The Origins of “Cis”
The term “cisgender” originates from Latin, not modern identity politics. “Cis” means “on this side of,” while “trans” means “on the other side of.” These prefixes have been used for centuries and are still used today in chemistry, genetics, music, optics, and geography to describe opposing orientations (e.g., cisalpine vs. transalpine, or even transatlantic).
Nobody seems worried about “transatlantic” flights — but when it comes to gender, the same prefix suddenly feels threatening to some.
