Uniracial vs. Cisgender: Why Language Matters

[Shana A]

Uniracial vs. Cisgender: Why Language Matters
by: Fritz
Sat Sep 05, 2009 at 19:26:15 PM EDT

http://pamshouseblend.com/showDiary.do;jsessionid=CFEE14B9C1ECFB313FF4661A83044F52?diaryId=12831

It has taken me several weeks of consideration to come up with an analogy for the casual use of the term "cisgender" by transgender activists.

As I understand it, cisgender is a term that arose in the academic setting to describe the large and diverse population that is not transgender. It was rightfully felt that terms such as "normal" can be degrading to transgender people. Unfortunately, the solution was to invent a term that is now being used to polarize the LGBT community and perhaps eventually the general population.

[finewine]

Sigh, I really think this debate is blown out of all proportion.  As for this article, it would have been better titled "how usage matters" as there's nothing inherently wrong with the term "cisgender" at all.