A feminist critique of “cisgender”

[Shana A]

A feminist critique of "cisgender"
June 8, 2012 · by ehungerford · in Gender   

http://liberationcollective.wordpress.com/2012/06/08/a-feminist-critique-of-cisgender/

Consistent with common usage of the term "cisgender," the graphic below explains that "...if you identify with the gender you were assigened [sic] at birth, you are cis."

[...]

Framing gender as a medically determined assignment may seem like a good start to explaining gendered oppression because it purports to make a distinction between physical sex and gender. Feminism similarly understands masculinity and femininity (e.g., gender) as strictly enforced social constructs neither of which are the "normal" or inevitable result of one's reproductive sex organs. Feminism and trans theory agree that coercive gender assignments are a significant source of oppression.

On closer inspection of the concept of "cisgender," however, feminism and trans theory quickly diverge. Feminism does not believe that asking whether an individual identifies with the particular social characteristics and expectations assigned to them at birth is a politically useful way of analyzing or understanding gender. Eliminating gender assignments, by allowing individuals to choose one of two pre-existing gender molds, while continuing to celebrate the existence and naturalism of "gender" itself, is a not progressive social goal that will advance women's liberation.  Feminism claims that gender is a much more complicated (and sinister) social phenomenon than this popular cis/trans binary has any hope of capturing.

[justmeinoz]

The term "cis" really isn't a lot of use unless we are discussing trans and cis gendered situations, generally when looking at brain structure. Otherwise we are just women.

[peky]

Feminism has evolved from been a sociological phenomena to become a avenge-driven political party for looser. They spent more time in semantics and epistemological diatribe than in furthering their once so lofty goals. Hopefully they will go they way of communism and the dodo bird.

Personally, I reject the trans and cis concept, yet like Karen said about we sometimes are forced to use such terms as: cis, trans, transsexual, transgender, etc. I never had a problem with my gender, I knew I was a female, so, there has never been a crossing over of any kind. True that I was forced to assume a gender role not congruent with my identity, but that was not self imposed.,

[Butterflyhugs]

A lesbian separatist radical feminist (aka the crazies) critique of "cisgender"*******

[eli77]

Actually, that was really interesting. She is right that there are some pretty serious problems around language with cis/trans due to the endlessly muddied concepts of gender. And that self-identified categorization comes with some problems.

But the main hole in her argument is just that she ignores intersectionality. Just because cis is privileged over trans does not imply that cis men are not privileged over cis women. Just like saying white is privileged over black does not imply that black men are not privileged over black women. It's a false dichotomy.

She also does a weird gaff in saying that perceived trans-ness somehow makes the cis/trans division irrelevant. And perceived homosexuality makes the queer/straight division irrelevant? No. It's still about privilege and oppression, whether someone is visible or not. And whether the visible person is actually what they are perceived to be or not. That being perceived as trans 'causes a loss of privilege actually SUPPORTS the fact that the cis/trans division is of use in analyzing structures of oppression and privilege.

And I really wish they'd stop using "feminism" like they own the word. They don't. The majority of us don't agree with the radical feminist position.

[justmeinoz]

The article is an example of the hostility and mis-understanding that exists in some sectors of the GLBTI community around TS issues.  Would have been nice to do a Semiotic Analysis of it in a Tutorial.I had 1st Semester exam in Gender Studies this morning
Kaz.