Use of "cis"

[notwokeup]

What are your opinions on the use of cis? I have to say I hate it. It feels like an unnecessary prefix to me.

However, a young trans woman has just started at my work, and insists on referring to cis women (rarely cis men). Because of the work, I am loathe to say anything as I know that I would be in trouble. I have no problem using their preferred pronouns she/her, and she is a lovely person, although young (20) and quite naive. Yet I cringe every time she refers to women as cis.

Ask her to respect your preferred pronouns, as you do for her.

This cannot be a one way street.

A lovely person would have enough respect for women not to use ‘cis’.

I dont really understand the point tbh. If trans folk want to distinguish between a transwoman and a woman why not just call themselves a transwoman? Otherwise, if all "normal" women are called "cis women" and trans women are called "women" everyone will just hear "woman" and think "trans". So it doesn't make any sense to me.

Ask her if she doesn't think categorising people into cis and trans is a bit 'binary'..? Out-woke her

I think there would be repercussions if I said anything.

It's a banned term on here, so I don't know if your thread will be deleted. Most of us find it offensive since it's unnecessary.

Women are women (no prefix required).
Transwomen are transwomen (the prefix indicates that they aren't actually women).

You could politely explain to your colleague that you find it unneccessary and offensive. If you are referring to her in the way she prefers, then it would be courteous for her to do the same for you.

Refer your new colleague to Stonewall's own guidelines - they list "not trans" as an alternative to "cis", and say that you prefer that formulation if circumstances arise which require a distinction to be made, and would they please respect your views on your own feelings about gender, as you do theirs.

I would tell them that I don't like the word cis, I feel it's insulting and thatI would prefer to be addressed if necessary as a woman. I would point out that they are making assumptions and running the risk of offending others by assuming others are 'cis' and that if they wish to be addressed as 'she' they ought to extend the courtesy of self-definition to others. But I'm not nice, I find cis offensive and I wouldn't find anyone who called others cis a lovely person.

Yes, out woke her, and explain that cis is offensive.

What sort of things are coming up at work that one or both of you needs to refer to women as a group?

We need to in my job so it happens, but the context might assist with how to handle it.

OldCrone my understanding is that it is allowed in the context of discussions about the political implications of the term (just as T* is), just not allowed to be applied to particular posters or collections of posters.

Personally I don't like language policing at all. I'd sooner the whole lot were allowed, but people could say that they didn't like a given word being applied to them, give their reasons why, then posters who continued to insist on using it would simply look like the dicks they are.

She has had abuse from members of the public (which I find offensive as well) which is when she first used the term, but has done so on several other occasions.

I'd take her conspiratorially to one side and checking that no-one else is looking, whisper in her ear that you are not actually cis. She'll be pissed off about how well you pass.

Alternatively just come out as non binary. There are days that I think that mass identifying as non binary might be the only solution to this madness.

I find it inflammatory and downright offensive, I'm female, a woman, not cis, nor 'non-trans' all these labels the transgender community and their supporters keep coming up with frankly seem like increasingly elaborate ways of men finding ways to sideline women, some of the other posters on here make great points in terms of what would be good responses.

Sometimes you want to refer to all women, sometimes you want to refer to trans women, sometimes you want to refer to not--trans women.

The word "cis" is useful in that last context, in the same way that the word "straight" is useful.

Sometimes you want to refer to all women, sometimes you want to refer to trans women, sometimes you want to refer to not--trans women.

The word "cis" is useful in that last context, in the same way that the word "straight" is useful

Only if you share the metaphysical belief that human beings can change sex. What if you are reality-based?

Trills, according to Stonewall, "cis" means that my gender aligns with my birth sex. Fuck that. I've spent my whole sodding life (over 50 years now) fighting against the restrictions gender places on me. I will not be told by a third party that I willingly identify with the system which oppresses me. And yes, it genuinely does oppress me, we're not talking "1st world imaginary problems" here - I had to fight a fucking equal pay claim, for no other reason than that I was born with a vagina not a penis.

I like RedRosa suggestion, I'm going to try and remember that for when a similar situation arises

Women are a separate group to trans women.

Using transwoman and women to diffentiate between the humans who belong to these distinct groups takes away the need for 'cis'

If I am referring to all women, I am referring to those adult humans who were born female

Sometimes you want to refer to all women, sometimes you want to refer to trans women, sometimes you want to refer to not--trans women

The word for not-trans women already exists, it is "women". No need whatsoever for a random prefix.

She is just assuming your gender the cheeky thing

And indeed any other people’s
You could be a non binary sort of person

Throw it right back at her and tell her to stop being genderist

Trills you'll find the majority of us still believe in science on the FWR board.

Women and transwomen are different sexes, and since women are not a subset of the sex class women a qualifier is not required.