What is the term cis short for, and how is it often used? This article will detail many potential meanings of cisgender.
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Kevin
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January 31, 2022
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Common Questions
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Per the Daily Dot, the word cis is a shorthand for the term cisgender. Someone who is cisgender’s gender identity matches the sex they were assigned at birth and the sex of their genitals.
For example, a cisgender man is born with a penis and testes, and a cisgender woman is born with a vagina and uterus.
Their genes and chromosomes also match their preferred gender identity. A cis woman has XX chromosomes, and a cis man or cis male has XY chromosomes. Their own pronouns are likely the ones that correlate with the gender they were assigned at birth.
What Is the Difference Between Cis and Trans?
The term cis comes from a Latin prefix that means “on the same side as.” Trans is also a Latin prefix that means “on the other side.” The opposite of the word cisgender is transgender, which is sometimes shortened to trans. A transgender person identifies with a gender that is not the one they were assigned at birth.
Other people who are not considered cisgender may identify as genderqueer or nonbinary, which are terms used to refer to people who do not identify as either male or female. Intersex people with reproductive organs from both sexes are also sometimes lumped under the trans umbrella, though some may not identify as a part of the LGBTQ community.
Transgender men and trans women are a part of the LGBT community, as well as people who identify as nonbinary.
Trans Advocacy
Trans people face discrimination and transphobia for their gender expression, often due to cisnormativity and cissexism. These are social constructs in which cisgender behaviors and looks are thought of as the default.
Trans people can be discriminated against in their personal life and at their jobs, and there are not many legal protections in place to defend them. Transgender activists stick up for trans rights and changes to exclusionary societal norms. Scholars in transgender studies often argue that gender is a social construct.
Options for Trans People
To feel more comfortable in their bodies, some trans people might choose to modify their bodies. These can be through hormones or surgery that alters the body to better match a person’s gender identity. This can help alleviate their gender dysphoria.
Some trans people may not have surgery or go on hormones for medical reasons, cost, or personal choice. If they do, potential surgeries include top surgery and bottom surgery. In top surgery, breasts are removed or implanted. In bottom surgery, the vagina is turned into a penis or vice versa.
What Can CIS Stand for When Used as an Acronym?
According to The Free Dictionary, the term CIS can also be used as an acronym. In an acronym, each letter stands for a word. This is not the same as an abbreviation like cis, which changes one word or phrase to something shorter and easier to say.
Since the word cis is fairly well known as an abbreviation for cisgender, people might be confused when they see the acronym CIS. Use context clues to determine if someone means one of these definitions:
- Centre International d’Informations de Sécurité et de Santé au Travail (French: International Occupational Safety and Health Information Centre; Switzerland)
- Communications & Information Systems
- Client Information Sheet
- Computational Intelligence Society (IEEE)
- Component Interface Specification
- Chongqing Iron & Steel (China)
- Corporación Interuniversitaria de Servicios (Spanish: Interuniversity Services Corporation; Colombia)
- Center for Ignatian Spirituality (Los Angeles, CA)
- Contractor Information Service
- Center for Information Services (Washington Community and Technical Colleges)
- Civil Society Initiative (WHO)
- Cerberus’ Internet Scanner
- Contracts Information System
- Chemical Information System
- CMOS Image Sensor
- Content Immutable Storage
- Certified Investment Specialist
- Content Identification System
- Certified Investment Strategist
- Chemical Injection System
- Component Integration Services
- Cargill Investor Services
- Central Intelligence Service (Privateer 2 PC game)
- Computer Information System
- Comunita degli Stati Indipendenti (Italian: Commonwealth of Independent States)
- Catalogue Interoperability Subsystem
- Control Indicator Set
- Content Intelligence Services (Documentum product)
- Communications Interface Shelter (US DoD)
- Chair Indicate Stopped
- Center for Ideas and Society
- Context Information Store
- Commemorative Integrity Statement (Canada)
- China Inspection Services (Beijing, China)
- Center for Injury Sciences (University of Alabama at Birmingham)
- Centralized Interim Storage (nuclear energy)
- Contact Image Sensing (scanner technology)
- Centre d’Information sur la Surdité (French: Information Center on Deafness)
Conclusion
Overall, the word cis is short for cisgender, which refers to a person whose gender identity matches their assigned sex at birth. This comes from the Latin prefix cis.
Cisgender is often used as an antonym for transgender, which refers to a person whose gender identity does not match their assigned sex at birth. It is important to advocate for the rights of transgender people, especially if you are a cisgender ally.
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