Cis Is Not an Insult

[Shana A]

Cis Is Not an Insult

The Czech
July 1, 2009

http://theczech.wordpress.com/2009/07/01/cis-is-not-an-insult/

For those of you not familiar with the terms "cisgender" or "cissexual", here is a reference.

Check out this post at Questioning Transphobia. The post addresses a piece written by a cisgendered gay man who claims the term cisgender (i.e. non-trans) is offensive. A popular blog that I usually enjoy, Pam's House Blend, has decided to bow to these claims and ban the words cisgender and cissexual, as well as any comment that supports their use.

Cis is not an offensive prefix, nor an insult.

[tekla]

Oh nonesense.  Just like every tool is a weapon if you hold it right, every word is an insult if you use it in the manner of an insult.

[finewine]

True, although the context of the original article makes me think that the gay chap in question was claiming there was something inherently pejorative about the term, an implied "insult by default" if you will.  If so, then I think that's nonsense too.

But you're right, you can use any word as an insult [points at Kat and cries "blancmange!"]

[Lisbeth]

Oh nonesense.  Just like every tool is a weapon if you hold it right, every word is an insult if you use it in the manner of an insult.

Then let's ban the use of all words.

[Mister]

I love how someone not associated with a group of people that finds a term offensive can declare that the term is not offensive. 

[finewine]

I love how someone not associated with a group of people that finds a term offensive can declare that the term is not offensive. 

Ah but which group, dude?  Cisgendered gay men or cisgendered people or what?  As the original complainant was a cisgendered gay man and his complaint was about the cisgendered aspect rather than any specifically anti-gay connotations, I suspect the only "group" that finds the term offensive would be cisgendered people. I doubt that any group so broad would have a consensus on this particular term being offensive (I'm cisgendered and I don't).

[Mister]

The author of this piece doesn't state their identification and normally I don't think they'd have to.  Since someone else is insulted by a term that was used to define them, it seems to me that someone of a differing demographic should not be the one to dismiss the insult.

i.e. a gay man is insulted by being called a ->-bleeped-<-.  i, a straight man say, "it wasn't meant to be offensive so it wasn't."   not my place.

[finewine]

The author of this piece doesn't state their identification and normally I don't think they'd have to.  Since someone else is insulted by a term that was used to define them, it seems to me that someone of a differing demographic should not be the one to dismiss the insult.

i.e. a gay man is insulted by being called a ->-bleeped-<-.  i, a straight man say, "it wasn't meant to be offensive so it wasn't."   not my place.

Ah gotcha. In this context I agree with you.  I'm not completely aligned with tekla on the usage point, although I understand it.  I say this because there's a consistent pattern of slang usage to pejorative terms; it's rare for formal or technical terminology to be used in that manner.

I think it's hard to use "cisgendered" as a pejorative any more than "caucasian" could be a credible pejorative.  Perhaps if we slang-ify it to "cissie" then yeah, that would probably give it more of an insulting flavour

[Mister]

I don't think it's insulting, but it's got it's downfalls.  Lack of common usage or understanding, the very large presumption involved, etc.  Makes me glad I've avoided the academic side of transition.

[finewine]

Yup with you on that one, it certainly has disadvantages!

Love the avatar btw...couldn't help but sing it when I first saw it.

[Mister]

Yup with you on that one, it certainly has disadvantages!

Love the avatar btw...couldn't help but sing it when I first saw it.

haha, thanks.

[tekla]

I'm not saying ban the use of all words, I'm just pointing out that language is a lot more flexible than the writer seems to think it is.

[finewine]

I agree with you on that, I didn't mean to imply you said a ban - my apologies if I inadvertently suggested differently

[Constance]

But you're right, you can use any word as an insult [points at Kat and cries "blancmange!"]

"Blancmange" is not an insult. It's the name of an '80's syth-pop band. 

[tekla]

Blancmange" is not an insult. It's the name of an '80's syth-pop band.

That's kind of insulting isn't it?  (Says Kat who is going to be working Duran Duran in a 1000 seat club on Tuesday)

[Constance]

I kind of like Duran Duran, but not enough to pay to see them.

[tekla]

Oh come on, they are only charging $75 a ticket.  I think they sold out in a matter of moments.

[Mr. Fox]

Yup with you on that one, it certainly has disadvantages!

Love the avatar btw...couldn't help but sing it when I first saw it.

Seconded on the avatar.  I haven't found an excuse to bring it up, or else I would have complimented it earlier.