- On this page:
- Where does cis come from?
- Why do we need a word for this?
- What is cisgenderism?
- Downloads
You may have heard the term cis being used before, even being used to describe you, and wonder what it meant, or why the word would need to exist at all.
Cis, short for cisgender (pronounced sis-gender, or just sis), refers to someone whose gender matches the one presumed for them at birth. For example, if a parent or doctor declared you a boy or girl at birth and that aligns with your gender now, you are cisgender.
Cis people can be men or women, because those are the genders that doctors label people at birth.
A person’s gender is different from their sexuality; therefore, you can be cisgender and be straight, gay, lesbian, bisexual, queer, or another sexuality – just as trans people can have diverse sexualities.
Where does cis come from?
The prefix cis comes from Latin, meaning “on the same side as,” and is often contrasted with trans, which means “on the opposite side as.” These terms have long been used in scientific disciplines like chemistry, geography, and genetics.
In chemistry, for instance, cis and trans describe the arrangement of molecules—whether certain atoms are on the same side or opposite sides of a structure.
In the context of gender and trans advocacy, the term cis was popularised by Julia Serano1 in her 2007 book, Whipping Girl. Over time, it has become a key term to discuss and understand gender experiences.
Like many words in language, cis has been borrowed from other contexts to help describe new ideas and experiences. Its use in discussions about gender helps us better understand and articulate the world around us.
When using the term, it’s important to include a space between cis or trans and the word they modify (e.g., cis woman or trans woman). For example, just as you wouldn’t say “smartwoman” or “tallwoman,” the same applies here.
Why is cis a useful term?
The term cis fills a gap in language that might otherwise be occupied by words like “normal” or “regular.” Such words can unintentionally (or sometimes intentionally) position trans people as “abnormal” or “irregular.”
Using cis provides a value-neutral way to differentiate between people whose gender aligns with their sex assigned at birth and those whose gender does not. It ensures that discussions about gender are specific and respectful, without suggesting that one experience is better or worse than another.
By being able to differentiate between trans and cis people, we can talk about the experiences we have that differ, and the many more experiences we have that are similar.
What is cisgenderism?
Cisgenderism occurs when someone’s gender is pathologised, dismissed, or invalidated because it doesn’t align with the gender presumed for them at birth2 . This can harm both trans and cis people by delegitimising their gender or the genders of others.
Cisgenderism can manifest in many ways, such as:
- Rejection by friends or family.
- Microaggressions or subtle invalidations.
- Failing to use affirming language.
- Denial of necessary medical care.
- Believing or acting as though someone is “really” a gender they are not.
Combating cisgenderism requires education, empathy, and openness to others’ experiences and truths. Reading this page is a great first step. To learn more, visit our downloads hub and explore additional resources.
All illustrations on this page by Briar Rolfe.
References & Links
¹Serano, J. (2014). Julia Serano’s compendium on cisgender, cissexual, cissexism, cisgenderism, cis privilege, and the cis/trans distinction.
²Ansara, Y. G., & Berger, I. (2016). Cisgenderism. In The Wiley Blackwell Encyclopedia of Gender and Sexuality Studies.
