Is “cis” a slur?

You may have heard that Twitter now considers “cis” and “cisgender” to be slurs.

I asked ChatGPT what makes a word a slur. Here’s what it said.

A slur is a derogatory or offensive term used to demean or insult a particular individual or group of people based on their race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, religion, or other characteristics. Slurs are typically intended to belittle, dehumanize, or marginalize the targeted group.

Several factors contribute to a word being considered a slur:

1. Derogatory Intent: Slurs are intentionally used to demean or disparage individuals or communities. The primary purpose of a slur is to insult or offend.

2. Historical Context: Many slurs have a long history of being used to oppress or discriminate against marginalized communities. The historical use and association of a word with discrimination or violence contribute to its classification as a slur.

3. Impact and Offensiveness: Slurs often evoke strong negative emotions and perpetuate harmful stereotypes. They can be deeply hurtful and dehumanizing to those targeted by them, causing psychological and emotional harm.

4. Societal Consensus: The classification of a word as a slur can also depend on societal consensus. The general perception of a term within a community or society, especially among the affected group, plays a significant role in determining whether it is considered a slur.

It is important to note that slurs can vary across cultures, contexts, and time periods. What may be considered a slur in one culture or era might not have the same connotation in another. Additionally, the impact and offensiveness of slurs can evolve over time as societies progress and language norms change.

That seems mostly reasonable, although it misses a key component, namely, what do the people the word is used to describe think of it?

Is “cis” used with derogatory intent? I’m not sure, but I think it’s at least slightly derogatory.

It has no historical context because all this “gender” foolishness started 10 minutes ago.

Is it offensive? I don’t know. Slightly, maybe.

Is there a consensus? How could there be? If you disagree with the trans narrative you get social media murdered.

Here’s what J.K. Rowling has to say about the words, although she doesn’t address if they are “slurs.”

J.K. Rowling on cis and cisgender

8 thoughts on “Is “cis” a slur?”

  1. I don’t think it is usually a slur. Depends on how it is used to determine if it is a slur. She’s a CIS TERF. Definite slur.

    However, I totally reject it as an adjective. There are no CIS men or women. Just normal men or women or to be accurate… men and women.

    At least in cultures like SE Asia where this sort of thing is more prevalent, they say “ladyboy” or have similar words in their dialect. I am unaware of there being a trans man term like ladyboy.

  2. Anything could be a slur…depending on the intent and context. Yet, I’m struggling to see how “cis” and “cisgender” are slurs. They generally mean, one identifies with the sex they were born with. So, in general usage, how is that a slur? Albeit the term is redundant, if someone called me a cis man, I’d likely respond…”yes, I am” and think nothing more of it.

    2. The article seems to take it a step further than our current state…having government intervention. If “cis” is left as colloquial expression, then I don’t necessarily see it as a slur. Yet, if it’s proposed as government mandated language, then it should be opposed.

      1. I had in mind more the point about “unbaptized” — the effect of a designation imposed by others that those designated do not consider an appropriate self-designation. Like calling a non-Christian “unbaptized” as a general designator, it says nothing untrue but defines according to a category that the designee doesn’t even accept as a useful category. I agree that government intervention takes it to a different level, but I think Dougherty’s other points are relevant even apart from that.

        Which is why I said he “makes some good points,” not that I agreed with every word of the piece.

        1. I don’t disagree with his or your commentary. It may be unnecessary, redundant and unwanted. Yet, I still don’t see it as a ‘slur’ (in general usage). In the context I typically hear the term, it’s more a benign descriptor…something on the order of a “girly-girl” or a “jock” guy. Some may not like being associated with those categories but they generally aren’t derogatory.

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