Cissexism

The term cissexism stems from the Latin root cis, meaning “on the same side.” This root also presents itself in the related term cisgender, used to describe an individual who self-identifies with the gender assigned at birth. For example, an individual would be cisgender (or “cis” in short) if that individual was described as male (or female) at birth, stated as male (female) on the birth certificate, and then grew up to experience himself (herself) as being male (female). Cisgender as a category contrasts with transgender from the Latin root trans, meaning “across.” A transgender individual self-identifies with a gender identity other than what was assigned at birth. For example, an infant described as a male on birth may grow up with a sense of ...