Cis is not an “academic” term

[Natasha]

Cis is not an "academic" term

http://questioningtransphobia.wordpress.com/2009/04/25/cis-is-not-an-academic-term/
4/25/09

I've seen this a bunch of times recently in the various threads trying to make sense of  the various trans/feminist blog thrashes.  "What is this cis term?  It seems so academic."  etc

Well, the thing is.  It's not.  I've seen it used by Julia Serano, and Riki Wilchins, and not much else.   I suspect that the academic usage will grow given the influence of Serano in trans communities, but the point is - it's not a bloody academic term.   As the wikipedia article states, correctly as far as I know, "cis" emerged as a primarily internet usage amongst activists in the mid 90s, a full decade before it appeared in academia. Even now this is overwhelmingly the truth.

[tekla]

I think its harder to use it in an academic manner, meaning, to use it in academic writing.  Each field has its own style guides, and where it might become OK for woman's studies, in order to get widespread use you are going to have to sell its usage to the Chicago Manual of Style, and Kate Turabian.  Considering they went through a decades long fight about the use of the comma when 'and' is used,don't count on them coming to a conclusion anytime soon.