Banning the term "cis"

[OlennasWimple]

Apologies if this had already been done, but can MNHQ consider banning the term "cis", given how horrifically offensive so many users of MN find it?

I don't think I need to set out the background and reasoning to this request (but can do so if it would help!)

I do find CIS offensive

However, it is a handy tool to to highlight what women have volunteered to be a useful
Idiot for the trans movement.

"Having said that, if posters persistently misgender by using cis, or the incorrect pronoun intentionally to goad, then please do report and we will deal with them as a goady poster."

I agree about the pronouns, absolutely.

But I think I actually feel misgendered by being described as cis. My gender and sex are both female, which means I am a woman. The cis prefix is imposed on me by others without discussion or my agreement.

Having just unilaterally reclaimed 'gynophobia' may I point out that objecting to people with balls, willies and high testosterone levels in women's safe spaces isn't transphobia, it's androphobia. Except it's not really a phobia, it's not an irrational fear but one borne of evidence about then behaviour of a minority of men.

bakeoff

Amazing x-post!

God forbid they offend the trans folk, with their superior rights.

I agree with MNHQ tbh - banning words doesn't really work. It's up to us to report gynophobic or (genuinely) transphobic posts.

I don't want to ban it. I just don't want to use it or have it used about me. If other women want to play "cool girl" that's fine with me. I got very over excited about gay rights back in the day, before I realized that gay people are just as capable of being arseholes as straight people. And gay men are just as capable of misogyny as straight ones......

Yes it is bengal. They want there to be 2 subdivisions of women - transwomen and ciswomen, rather than using the actual definition of women (adult human female) which obviously excludes them, as it is impossible for a male to become a female.

No one should redefine women as cis-women just because trans women exist.

^ This

Also I don't particularly identify with the idea of "female gender" and many women feel this way. So to me it is not only bullshit but whole cis thing is an inaccurate label for many people, whatever their sex. I do not want it forced upon me and my daughters.

Wiki suggests it's the invention of a 'sexologist' and sociologists.

Perhaps, Errol. But it's only really used in connection to transgenderism.

"Also I don't particularly identify with the idea of "female gender" and many women feel this way."

Would you be prepared to say more about what you mean by this? I mean, obviously you identify as a panda but what does female gender mean to you?

I certainly feel I identify as "female gender" but I think for me it's a political/sociological thing. I identify with women's "struggle" and want to stand with the brave woman of the past and present who fought/fight for women's rights.

In my experience ( I really am throwing caution to the winds on this thread!) gender-neutral means male.

I don't want to ban 'cis' - far rather carry on educating the people who use it, most of whom do so from the best of trying-to-be-liberal intentions without understanding the full significance.

I would like unevidenced accusations of 'transphobia' to be deleted as readily as similar accusations of racism are, though.

I certainly feel I identify as "female gender" but I think for me it's a political/sociological thing. I identify with women's "struggle" and want to stand with the brave woman of the past and present who fought/fight for women's rights.

I am not convinced that being a feminist is a gender identity.

When I first learnt about feminism, "gender" was used to mean the social role that was artificially constructed by patriarchy and then forced on women to oppress us. (I think the transactivists mean the same, actually, even though they phrase it differently. That's why I consider "cis" an insult.)
I am aware that gender is inflicted on me on a daily basis, because that's how patriarchy works, but I do not identify with it. I only identify with the struggle against it.

And the word I use for that is "feminist".

Thanks for the post, MNHQ. I'm not surprised with tour response, but I am disappointed.

I'm struggling to think of another situation where the majority of participants say that they find a term applied to them by others offensive and the organizers refuse to acknowledge complaints about the use of the term as derogatory. Imagine a forum for black people where some pp used the term "nigger" and everyone else was told that unless it was directed at them they should accept the usage of that word? Pretty unlikely, don't you think?

I do understand, however, that MNHQ generally dislikes outright bans, so can I propose a modification to my OP?

The term "cis" can only be used in reference to oneself: not to other pp, and not to MN users / women in general. So...

"I'm happy with my cis identity" = acceptable

"You should be happy with your cis identity" = not acceptable

"You should all be happy with your cis identity" = not acceptable

What about that as a way forward?

Sorry - one more addition to my last post! "Cis" may also be used in conversation about chemistry

I dislike the word and wouldn't refer to myself in that way

I can't imagine such a detailed rule would be workable. Putting it in the talk guidelines would only add to the misconception that MN is a hotbed of transphobia and make us even more of a target for MRAs etc.

Have MNHQ commented on this yet?

They have and at the top of the page there is a link to their comment