Elon Musk has claimed that the word “cisgender” is a slur.
Musk Took to Twitter
The self-proclaimed “free-speech absolutist” took to Twitter to share his opinion on the word. He went on to claim that anyone using it could be banned from the platform.
He Had the Support of Conservatives
“Thank you for standing up for reality, Elon,” one individual said, despite modern science largely supporting the existence of transgender people and the validity of gender identity.
His Words Attracted Transphobes
One individual asked why the word is a slur, to which another person replied: “We aren’t cis. We’re normal.”
Ignorance Dominated the Replies
Many replies used words like “cisgendered” and “transgendered”, which are incorrect. To say “cisgendered” would be akin to calling a blond person “blonded” or a gay person “gayed”. Similarly, “transman” and “transwoman” are incorrect because “trans,” or “transgender”, is an adjective – not a noun. To say “transman” is akin to saying “blondman” rather than “blond man”.
But There Were Also Plenty of Informed Individuals
“One thing is ‘sex’, another thing is ‘gender’. Educate yourself instead of spreading hate and misinformation,” one individual replied to a person conflating biological sex and gender identity.
Others Called Out Musk’s Privilege
Rex Huppke, a writer for USA Today, wrote: “Musk’s latest attempt to stomp his feet and whine is a perfect example of someone who has never been marginalized creating a phony sense of marginalization so he can feel free to continue marginalizing others.”
Redditors Had Plenty to Say
As always, Reddit users discussed the situation and their thoughts. One person said: “Any word can be offensive in context but this is just this week’s pathetic right-wing ‘we’re the real victims!’ script. They’ll forget this was even a thing in a few days.”
Redditors Better Informed Than Musk’s Following
Another Reddit user said: “Is this really even open for debate? I’m a white, cis man, and I don’t give a damn what you call me one way or the other. It’s just something that right-wing weirdos have hatched up in their fevered minds to be mad. Elon Musk has jumped on the bandwagon because he’s spent a lot of money on a new toy called Twitter, and he wants attention.” Another person added: “It’s absolutely not a debate. The term has been used by academics since the 90s.”
“Cisgender” Is Not a Slur
“Cisgender”, or “cis” for short, is a neutral word that refers to someone identifying with the gender they were assigned at birth. “Transgender”, or “trans” for short, is a word that refers to someone who does not. Someone can be a cisgender man, or a transgender man, just as they can be a brunette or blond man.
The Word Is Necessary
It’s a neutral descriptor and, often, is necessary; cisgender women experience things transgender women don’t and vice versa. Sometimes it’s important to specify which group of women you’re talking about, and, of course, the same goes for cisgender and transgender men.“Cisgender” is preferable to “non-transgender” as the latter implies that to be trans is to be abnormal, rather than implying the reality – that being trans and being cis are simply two different experiences. We don’t refer to straight people as “non-gay” just because they’re more common; we refer to them as “straight” or “heterosexual.”
Musk Made Twitter Hell for Trans People
A GLAAD report recently found that anti-LGBTQ+ abuse on Twitter has increased since Musk took over. Moreover, Twitter no longer provides protections for transgender users who are deadnamed or misgendered. The platform removed transgender-specific protection from its Hateful Conduct Policy.
Musk Is Far From the First to Claim Such a Thing
The claim of “cisgender” being a slur is a popular one among the gender-critical movement who, by and large, are cisgender women who believe transgender women are taking away their rights. They rarely talk about transgender men.
The Meaning of “Cis”
“Cis” and “trans” are prefixes. “Cis” means “on this side” and “trans” means “on or to the other side.” A flight from the UK to New York is transatlantic because it crosses the Atlantic Ocean. A flight from New York to Florida is cisatlantic because it remains on the same side of the Atlantic Ocean. In chemistry, molecules with atoms on the same side are called “cis” and those with atoms on the opposite side are called “trans”. “Cis” is the opposite of “trans” in many contexts.
The Hypocrisy
Anyone who isn’t transgender, regardless of whether or not Musk likes the word, is cisgender. For a group of people who talk so much about “ignoring reality”, gender-critical individuals seem to deny that a lot.
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