Cisgender
Updated:Cisgender, often abbreviated as "cis," refers to individuals whose gender identity aligns with the sex they were assigned at birth. For example, a person born with male genitalia who identifies as a man is considered cisgender. This term is used to describe gender identity and is not related to sexual orientation.
Additional Information
The term "cisgender" emerged in the 1990s as a way to describe non-transgender individuals without using potentially problematic terms like "normal" or "biological." It's derived from the Latin prefix "cis-" meaning "on this side of," as opposed to "trans-" meaning "across from" or "on the other side of."
Understanding cisgender identity is crucial in discussions about gender diversity and equality. It helps highlight that being transgender is not the only way to experience gender and that cisgender individuals also have a gender identity, even if it aligns with societal expectations.
Examples
A woman who was assigned female at birth and identifies as a woman is cisgender.
In a discussion about gender identity, someone might say, "I'm cisgender, which means my gender identity matches the sex I was assigned at birth."