Table of Diversity Element: Cisgender
The Table of Diversity Element Cisgender (Cg) is in the second column, Gender Identity, on the Table of Diversity.
Cisgender is defined as 'an adjective that describes a person whose gender identity aligns with the sex they were assigned at birth'.
Cisgender and transgender (describes someone whose gender identity differs from the sex assigned at birth) have origins in Latin-derived prefixes. Cis means 'on this side of' and trans means 'across from' or 'on the other side of'.
Cisgender is a new addition to the 2023 Table of Diversity.
Articles to Read
Check out these articles to learn more!
01
Being Cisgender: What It Means, Where the Word Comes From, and the Privilege That Comes With It. -Teen Vogue
"There are so many ways to express your sexuality, and that's something to truly celebrate. But it can get confusing and we should all strive to have a clear understanding of the various identities and what they mean.
'Cisgender' is a term that is often interchanged with 'straight' but they're not a one-to-one exchange (more on that later). You may also hear 'cishet' instead of cisgender, as well as 'comphet' used in the same conversation. We're here to save you some research and shed some light on all of these terms.
What does cis stand for? This one is simple, so let's get it out of the way first: 'cis' (pronounced sis) is short for 'cisgender.'
What does it mean to be cisgender? The gender identity conversation falls under the 'T' in LGBT. Yes, it stands for trans, but while L (lesbian), G (gay), and B (bisexual) are tied to sexual identities, T (trans) refers to gender identity. To break it down further, transgender refers to someone who identifies as a sex they were not assigned at birth, cisgender describes someone who choses to identify as the sex they were assigned at birth. Instead of thinking of these two identities as opposites, consider them complements. And don't confuse them with gender identities- that's a completely different realm."
02
Being Cisgender: What It Means, Where the Word Comes From, and the Privilege That Comes With It. -Teen Vogue
"There are so many ways to express your sexuality, and that's something to truly celebrate. But it can get confusing and we should all strive to have a clear understanding of the various identities and what they mean.
'Cisgender' is a term that is often interchanged with 'straight' but they're not a one-to-one exchange (more on that later). You may also hear 'cishet' instead of cisgender, as well as 'comphet' used in the same conversation. We're here to save you some research and shed some light on all of these terms.
What does cis stand for? This one is simple, so let's get it out of the way first: 'cis' (pronounced sis) is short for 'cisgender.'
What does it mean to be cisgender? The gender identity conversation falls under the 'T' in LGBT. Yes, it stands for trans, but while L (lesbian), G (gay), and B (bisexual) are tied to sexual identities, T (trans) refers to gender identity. To break it down further, transgender refers to someone who identifies as a sex they were not assigned at birth, cisgender describes someone who choses to identify as the sex they were assigned at birth. Instead of thinking of these two identities as opposites, consider them complements. And don't confuse them with gender identities- that's a completely different realm."