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{{Short description|Appeal to norms that enforce the gender binary and gender essentialism}}
{{Short description|Appeal to norms that enforce the gender binary and gender essentialism}}
'''Cisgenderism''', a construct related to but distinct from writing on '''cissexism''', is an [[ideology]] that challenges people's [[gender identity|gender identities]] and thus leads to [[discrimination]] against [[gender variance|gender variant]] people. It is systematic, and reflected in culture and the practices of legal authorities. Cisgenderism includes [[social norm|normative]] ideas about [[gender]], which lead to the exclusion of [[intersex]] people and cultures with systems of gender different from the Eurocentric norm, and people who do not conform to the norms of cisgenderism are categorized as transgender, nonbinary, gender fluid, etc.
'''Cisgenderism''' or '''cissexism''' is an [[ideology]] that challenges people's [[gender identity|gender identities]] and thus leads to [[discrimination]] against [[gender variance|gender variant]] people. It is systematic, and reflected in culture and the practices of legal authorities. Cisgenderism includes [[social norm|normative]] ideas about [[gender]], which lead to the exclusion of [[intersex]] people and cultures with systems of gender different from the Western norm, and people who do not conform to the norms of cisgenderism are categorized as [[transgender]] and stigmatized. The concept of cisgenderism was proposed as an alternative to that of [[transphobia]], as [[heterosexism]] was to [[homophobia]].


==Definition==
==Definition==
''The SAGE Encyclopedia of Trans Studies'' defines cisgenderism as an ideology that "involves concepts, language, and behavior that problematize people's own definitions and classifications of their genders and bodies".<ref name="SAGE Cisgenderism" /> Cisgenderism is systematic and may be promoted by the practices of legal authorities. It can affect all people, including those considered [[cisgender]], but more often targets transgender people.<ref name="SAGE Cisgenderism" />
''The SAGE Encyclopedia of Trans Studies'' defines cisgenderism as an ideology that "involves concepts, language, and behavior that problematize people's own definitions and classifications of their genders and bodies".<ref name="SAGE Cisgenderism" /> Cisgenderism is systematic and may be promoted by the practices of legal authorities. It can affect all people, including those considered [[cisgender]], but more often targets transgender people.<ref name="SAGE Cisgenderism" />


Cisgenderism refers to the gender ideology that one's assigned sex classification and their gender identity are, or should be, aligned in a specific way. This concept of cisgenderism was created as a critique of this gender ideology. In a cisgenderist perspective, people's own understanding of their gender is treated as less authoritative than gender classifications imposed by external authorities. Cisgenderism is an "-ism" in the sense of being a form of systemic oppression that affects public policy, legislation, and societal norms. Work in the field of cisgenderism, including Ansara and Hegarty (2012), critiques the cisgender / transgender binary for treating people's genders as more or less valid depending on external classifications of gender. <ref name="Ansara & Hegarty, 2012" /><ref>{{cite journal|last=Kennedy |first=Natacha |title=Cultural cisgenderism: Consequences of the imperceptible |journal=Psychology of Women Section Review |volume=15 |number=2 |year=2013 |pages=3–11 |url=}}</ref> Ansara and Hegarty (2012) also critiqued the very distinction between cisgender and transgender people. These concepts arise from Western culture with the gender binary peculiar to it, and are inapplicable to societies with other views on gender. Ansara received the Transgender Research Award from the American Psychological Association's Division 44 for this original and significant contribution to the field, which was the first empirical research paper in the field of cisgenderism studies. [[Non-binary]] and intersex people are excluded by cisgender&ndash;transgender dichotomy. Therefore, as Ansara and Hegarty note, this binary distinction may itself be a result of cisgenderism, although they recognise its strategic use within social justice efforts to address cisgenderism and anti-trans bias. Their concept of cisgenderism is explicitly influenced by [[critical disability studies]] as well as [[critical racism studies|critical racism]] and [[ethnocentrism studies]].<ref name="SAGE Cisgenderism" />
Cisgenderism is defined in opposition to transphobia, as heterosexism is to homophobia. While transphobia focuses on attitudes towards people seen as transgender, cisgenderism is described as an ideology. This ideology is "systemic, multi-level and reflected in authoritative cultural discourses".<ref name="Ansara & Hegarty, 2012" /><ref name="Kennedy, 2013" /> Critique of cisgenderism also criticizes the very distinction between cisgender and transgender people. These concepts arise from Western culture with the gender binary peculiar to it, and are inapplicable to societies with other views on gender. [[Non-binary]] and intersex people also cause problems for the cisgender&ndash;transgender dichotomy. Therefore, this binary distinction may itself be a result of cisgenderism. The concept of cisgenderism is influenced by [[critical disability studies]] as well as [[critical racism studies|critical racism]] and [[ethnocentrism studies]].<ref name="SAGE Cisgenderism" />


==Characteristics==
==Characteristics==
Cisgenderism as an ideology relies on the assumption that there are only two [[sex]] and gender categories, that gender is unchanging through life, and that it should be [[gender assignment|assigned]] by external authorities.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Rogers |first=Michaela M. |date=October 2021 |title=Exploring the Domestic Abuse Narratives of Trans and Nonbinary People and the Role of Cisgenderism in Identity Abuse, Misgendering, and Pathologizing |journal=Violence Against Women |language=en |volume=27 |issue=12–13 |pages=2187–2207 |doi=10.1177/1077801220971368 |issn=1077-8012 |pmc=8404723 |pmid=34448660}}</ref> In doing this, it ignores intersex people as well as societies where these assumptions do not hold true. People who do not conform to these assumptions are categorized as transgender.<ref name="Blumer et al, 2013" /> They are also portrayed as "deviant, immoral, and even threatening". Cisgenderism further justifies [[prejudice]], discrimination, and violence in order to preserve itself.<ref name="Lennon & Mistler, 2014" />
Cisgenderism relies on the assumption that there are only two [[sex]] and gender categories, that gender is unchanging through life, and that it should be [[gender assignment|assigned]] by external authorities.<ref name="Rogers, 2021" /> In doing this, it ignores intersex people as well as societies where these assumptions do not hold true. People who do not conform to these assumptions are categorized as transgender.<ref name="Blumer et al, 2013" /> They are also portrayed as "deviant, immoral, and even threatening". Cisgenderism further justifies [[prejudice]], discrimination, and violence in order to preserve itself.<ref name="Lennon & Mistler, 2014" />


==Consequences==
==Consequences==
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<ref name="Ansara & Hegarty, 2012">{{Vcite journal |authors = Ansara, Y. Gavriel; Hegarty, Peter |title = Cisgenderism in psychology: pathologising and misgendering children from 1999 to 2008 |journal = Psychology and Sexuality |volume = 3 |issue = 2 |year = 2012 |pages = 137–160 |doi = 10.1080/19419899.2011.576696}}</ref>
<ref name="Ansara & Hegarty, 2012">{{Vcite journal |authors = Ansara, Y. Gavriel; Hegarty, Peter |title = Cisgenderism in psychology: pathologising and misgendering children from 1999 to 2008 |journal = Psychology and Sexuality |volume = 3 |issue = 2 |year = 2012 |pages = 137–160 |doi = 10.1080/19419899.2011.576696}}</ref>
<ref name="Blumer et al, 2013">{{Vcite journal |author = Blumer, Markie L. C.; Gavriel Ansara, Y.; Watson, Courtney M. |author. = |title = Cisgenderism in Family Therapy: How Everyday Clinical Practices Can Delegitimize People's Gender Self-Designations |journal = Journal of Family Psychotherapy |volume = 24 |issue = 4 |pages = 267–285 |year = 2013 |doi = 10.1080/08975353.2013.849551}}</ref>
<ref name="Blumer et al, 2013">{{Vcite journal |author = Blumer, Markie L. C.; Gavriel Ansara, Y.; Watson, Courtney M. |author. = |title = Cisgenderism in Family Therapy: How Everyday Clinical Practices Can Delegitimize People's Gender Self-Designations |journal = Journal of Family Psychotherapy |volume = 24 |issue = 4 |pages = 267–285 |year = 2013 |doi = 10.1080/08975353.2013.849551}}</ref>
<ref name="Kennedy, 2013">{{cite journal|last=Kennedy |first=Natacha |title=Cultural cisgenderism: Consequences of the imperceptible |journal=Psychology of Women Section Review |volume=15 |number=2 |year=2013 |pages=3–11 |url=}}</ref>
<ref name="Lennon & Mistler, 2014">{{Vcite journal |author = Lennon, Erica; Mistler, Brian J. |author. = |title = Cisgenderism |journal = Transgender Studies Quarterly |volume = 1 |issue = 1–2 |year = 2014 |pages = 63–64 |doi = 10.1215/23289252-2399623}}</ref>
<ref name="Lennon & Mistler, 2014">{{Vcite journal |author = Lennon, Erica; Mistler, Brian J. |author. = |title = Cisgenderism |journal = Transgender Studies Quarterly |volume = 1 |issue = 1–2 |year = 2014 |pages = 63–64 |doi = 10.1215/23289252-2399623}}</ref>
<ref name="Rogers, 2017">{{Vcite journal |author = Rogers, Michaela M. |author. = |title = The intersection of cisgenderism and hate crime: learning from trans people's narratives |journal = Journal of Family Strengths |volume = 17 |issue = 2 |year = 2017 |doi = 10.58464/2168-670X.1352}}</ref>
<ref name="Rogers, 2017">{{Vcite journal |author = Rogers, Michaela M. |author. = |title = The intersection of cisgenderism and hate crime: learning from trans people's narratives |journal = Journal of Family Strengths |volume = 17 |issue = 2 |year = 2017 |doi = 10.58464/2168-670X.1352}}</ref>
<ref name="Rogers, 2021">{{Cite journal |last=Rogers |first=Michaela M. |date=October 2021 |title=Exploring the Domestic Abuse Narratives of Trans and Nonbinary People and the Role of Cisgenderism in Identity Abuse, Misgendering, and Pathologizing |journal=Violence Against Women |language=en |volume=27 |issue=12–13 |pages=2187–2207 |doi=10.1177/1077801220971368 |issn=1077-8012 |pmc=8404723 |pmid=34448660}}</ref>
</references>
</references>


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[[Category:Discrimination against transgender people]]
[[Category:Discrimination against transgender people]]
[[Category:Transgender studies]]
[[Category:Transgender studies]]
[[Category:LGBT erasure]]
[[Category:LGBTQ erasure]]

Latest revision as of 05:52, 23 September 2024

Cisgenderism or cissexism is an ideology that challenges people's gender identities and thus leads to discrimination against gender variant people. It is systematic, and reflected in culture and the practices of legal authorities. Cisgenderism includes normative ideas about gender, which lead to the exclusion of intersex people and cultures with systems of gender different from the Western norm, and people who do not conform to the norms of cisgenderism are categorized as transgender and stigmatized. The concept of cisgenderism was proposed as an alternative to that of transphobia, as heterosexism was to homophobia.

Definition

[edit]

The SAGE Encyclopedia of Trans Studies defines cisgenderism as an ideology that "involves concepts, language, and behavior that problematize people's own definitions and classifications of their genders and bodies".[1] Cisgenderism is systematic and may be promoted by the practices of legal authorities. It can affect all people, including those considered cisgender, but more often targets transgender people.[1]

Cisgenderism is defined in opposition to transphobia, as heterosexism is to homophobia. While transphobia focuses on attitudes towards people seen as transgender, cisgenderism is described as an ideology. This ideology is "systemic, multi-level and reflected in authoritative cultural discourses".[2][3] Critique of cisgenderism also criticizes the very distinction between cisgender and transgender people. These concepts arise from Western culture with the gender binary peculiar to it, and are inapplicable to societies with other views on gender. Non-binary and intersex people also cause problems for the cisgender–transgender dichotomy. Therefore, this binary distinction may itself be a result of cisgenderism. The concept of cisgenderism is influenced by critical disability studies as well as critical racism and ethnocentrism studies.[1]

Characteristics

[edit]

Cisgenderism relies on the assumption that there are only two sex and gender categories, that gender is unchanging through life, and that it should be assigned by external authorities.[4] In doing this, it ignores intersex people as well as societies where these assumptions do not hold true. People who do not conform to these assumptions are categorized as transgender.[5] They are also portrayed as "deviant, immoral, and even threatening". Cisgenderism further justifies prejudice, discrimination, and violence in order to preserve itself.[6]

Consequences

[edit]

Cisgenderism has a variety of consequences for its targets, intentionally or not. It may result in people's gender identities being pathologized or seen as disordered. This can contribute to depression, and make mental health care harder to access. It can also marginalize people for their gender identities, leading to strain and higher risks of ridicule and hate crime.[1] Coercive queering, another manifestation of cisgenderism, is classifying someone as LGBT against their wishes. It may also be lumping transgender rights issues together with lesbian, gay, and bisexual issues without actually addressing problems specific to transgender people.[7] Misgendering and objectification by reducing people to their physical characteristics are also consequences of cisgenderism.[7] In addition to these overt consequences of cisgenderism, trans erasure, whereby the challenges transgender people face are not represented in dominant discourses, is also a result of cisgenderism. Passing is a way to avoid consequences of cisgenderism, by outwardly conforming with cisgenderist norms.[8]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d Ansara, Y. Gavriel; Berger, Israel. Cisgenderism. In: Goldberg, Abbie; Beemyn, Gemmy, editors. The SAGE Encyclopedia of Trans Studies. SAGE Publications; 2021. ISBN 978-1-5443-9381-0.
  2. ^ Ansara, Y. Gavriel; Hegarty, Peter. Cisgenderism in psychology: pathologising and misgendering children from 1999 to 2008. Psychology and Sexuality. 2012;3(2):137–160. doi:10.1080/19419899.2011.576696.
  3. ^ Kennedy, Natacha (2013). "Cultural cisgenderism: Consequences of the imperceptible". Psychology of Women Section Review. 15 (2): 3–11.
  4. ^ Rogers, Michaela M. (October 2021). "Exploring the Domestic Abuse Narratives of Trans and Nonbinary People and the Role of Cisgenderism in Identity Abuse, Misgendering, and Pathologizing". Violence Against Women. 27 (12–13): 2187–2207. doi:10.1177/1077801220971368. ISSN 1077-8012. PMC 8404723. PMID 34448660.
  5. ^ Blumer, Markie L. C.; Gavriel Ansara, Y.; Watson, Courtney M. Cisgenderism in Family Therapy: How Everyday Clinical Practices Can Delegitimize People's Gender Self-Designations. Journal of Family Psychotherapy. 2013;24(4):267–285. doi:10.1080/08975353.2013.849551.
  6. ^ Lennon, Erica; Mistler, Brian J. Cisgenderism. Transgender Studies Quarterly. 2014;1(1–2):63–64. doi:10.1215/23289252-2399623.
  7. ^ a b Ansara, Y. Gavriel. Challenging cisgenderism in the ageing and aged care sector. Australasian Journal on Ageing. 2015;34(S2):14–18. doi:10.1111/ajag.12278.
  8. ^ Rogers, Michaela M. The intersection of cisgenderism and hate crime: learning from trans people's narratives. Journal of Family Strengths. 2017;17(2). doi:10.58464/2168-670X.1352.
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