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Aug 3, 2018 · Cis is commonly used in the discussion of cisgender privilege. People will often compare the experiences of transgender people to the experiences of cisgender people. It can often be to make a point about the systemic inequalities of gender-normative and heteronormative society.
- Overview
- Cisgender vs. straight — What’s the difference?
- What exactly does it mean to be cisgender?
- So you’re either cisgender or transgender?
- What exactly does it mean to be straight?
- So you’re either straight or gay?
- I’ve heard the term “cishet” — what’s that?
- Are all cisgender people straight?
- Why are there so many terms for gender?
- How do I know which gender terms to use?
Being cisgender isn’t the same thing as being straight, but they can overlap. In fact, people can be both cisgender and straight.
“Cisgender” is a word used to describe gender identity. “Straight,” on the other hand, is used to describe sexual orientation.
Here’s what you need to know about when these labels apply, other terms to use, and more.
When you were born, people looked at your genitals and decided that you were a girl or boy based on what they saw.
As you grow up and learn about the concept of gender, you might identify as the gender you were assigned at birth or you might not.
If you do identify with that gender, you’re cisgender, or “cis.”
For example, if you were born with a penis and identify as a male, you’re a cisgender man.
Similarly, if you were born with a vagina and identify as a female, you’re a cisgender woman.
If you don’t identify with the gender you were assigned at birth, you may find that you’re transgender, nonbinary, or gender nonconforming.
It’s not that simple.
Cisgender is considered the opposite of transgender, but some people feel that they identify as neither cisgender nor transgender.
Some people identify as nonbinary, which means they don’t identify strictly as a man or a woman.
Some nonbinary people consider themselves to be transgender, but some consider themselves to be neither entirely transgender nor cisgender.
For example, let’s consider a nonbinary person who was assigned male at birth. This person might describe themselves as genderfluid. They might feel that their gender identity shifts over time and they could identify as a man some days and a woman on other days.
In this case, the person shifts between the definitions of cisgender and transgender. They might identify as both cisgender and transgender, or neither.
The word “straight” is often used to mean “heterosexual.” It can also mean “heteroromantic.”
Heterosexual means you’re sexually attracted to the opposite sex only.
Heteroromantic means you’re romantically attracted to the opposite sex only.
Generally, “straight” means you’re attracted to the opposite sex, whether it’s in a sexual or romantic way.
This is also not so simple.
Some people are straight and some people are gay, but there are many other possibilities.
For example, you can be:
•Bisexual or biromantic: you’re attracted to people of multiple genders
•Pansexual or panromantic: you’re attracted to people of all genders
•Asexual or aromantic: you experience little to no sexual or romantic attraction
“Cishet” means someone is both cisgender and heterosexual. It could also mean both cisgender and heteroromantic.
In other words, a cishet person identifies as the gender they were assigned at birth, and they’re attracted to people of the opposite gender.
Nope!
There are many cisgender people who aren’t straight. So, you can be cisgender and gay, cisgender and bisexual, or cisgender and asexual, to name a few identities.
Every human is unique.
There are different terms to describe orientation and gender identity because there are so many ways to experience attraction and gender.
The diversity of terms actually reflects the diversity of humans.
Having a term to describe who you are can be validating for many people. Often, these terms help people find community so they feel less alone.
Some people tell you what terms they use to describe themselves. For others, you might have to ask.
If you’re not sure and you aren’t comfortable asking, don’t assume the labels someone does or doesn’t use.
Remember that some people might feel uncomfortable talking about their gender or orientation, especially if they’ve experienced discrimination in the past.
If you’re unsure about what terms to use to describe yourself, take time to think about it. Read up about terms that might describe you. Check out forums on Reddit and Facebook groups.
You can’t always tell what pronouns someone uses by looking at them. They might state their pronouns up front, or you have to ask. Remember, it’s better to ask than to assume.
If you’d like, you can share your pronouns when you meet new people.
- Sian Ferguson
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The word cisgender (often shortened to cis; sometimes cissexual) describes a person whose gender identity corresponds to their sex assigned at birth, i.e., someone who is not transgender. The prefix cis-is Latin and means on this side of.
Jul 8, 2024 · Cis is short for cisgender, which is a term used to describe a person whose gender identity is the same as the gender assigned to them at birth. For example, if a person is assigned male at birth and identifies as a boy or man, the person would be considered cis or cisgender.
Jul 16, 2023 · A cisgender (cis) woman is a person whose gender identity corresponds with the female sex designation they were assigned at birth. A cis woman uses the pronouns "she" and "her." Being cisgender has no correlation to a person's sexual orientation.
Jan 28, 2021 · Cisgender is a gender identity that a person feels matches the sex that a doctor assigned them at birth. This does not mean that people who are cisgender cannot be a part of LGBTQIA+...
People also ask
What does CIS mean?
What is a cis woman?
How do you identify as cisgender?
Is cis a slur?
