Cis labels

I'd argue it's so that TAs have control over vocabulary used. They can refer to themselves as trans/women/female we must accept the cis label imposed. We must accept their definition of women. We must call them women but be policed over our correct usage of the word trans. While we are tying ourselves in knots trying to say what we mean with a language that is constantly shifting.

And some are happy with trans women. Transwomen is a bit weird though. Do you know any blackwomen? Or Gaymen?

They aren't actually women though. That's the whole point. For all this sophistry, they are trans identified males.

Tiggy, how do you understand the word "woman"? What is this concept which can be prefaced equally by black or white or disabled or middle class or working class or trans, and still make sense?

What is your actual definition of woman which fits all those (and all other) categories of women? Without resorting to a circular definition?

What is it that all women have in common?

Give it up Tiggy. Not going to call myself cis as I fundamentally disagree with it. And the only way I'll use the word "women" at all is if I call them "transwomen". This is because I consider them male. Not going to change.

But I'm starting to think that the word "women" shouldn't ever be used. A mile has been taken where an inch was given. It's taken as an endorsement of actual womanhood where it is merely politeness. So transactivists can pat themselves on the back for that.

www.dailykos.com/story/2015/6/16/1393668/-I-am-not-an-Anti-Trans-Activist-I-am-the-victim-of-Anti-Cisgender-Activists

Interesting account of what happened to a gay activist when he declined to identify as Cis (he gets into again in the comments). It's a couple of years old now and some of it does come across as teens bickering on FB but still quite horrifying.

Fancy us daring to think of ourselves as default women! Tsk, tsk. We'll be claiming to be actual human beings next. The cheek of it.

The argument is transwomen (notice no space) are actually

trans women (with a space). In the same way you have disabled women and muslim women you have trans women and cis women. All are women but sometimes an additional descriptor is necessary. Cis is needed otherwise us vagina owners would become "default" women and what about the menz?

Many of them would say that both groups are women. But as it would be really confusing when talking about many trans related issues, both groups should have a prefix so neither gets othered.

And some are happy with trans women. Transwomen is a bit weird though. Do you know any blackwomen? Or Gaymen?

I don't think anybody has ever said "Women and cis women". They might say "cis women and trans women".

You're right when you say "Women and cis women" would be othering. But "Women and trans women" is as well. Either use a descriptive prefix to describe both parties, or don't use any.

By calling us 'cis', they attempt to make us a subset of women. So instead of women and transwomen, we move to women and cis women. See the difference? I think it's called 'othering'.