Comments on: Cissies and Malcontents http://www.feministe.us/blog/archives/2007/04/10/cissie-and-malcontents/ In defense of the sanctimonious women's studies set. Fri, 10 Feb 2012 10:18:49 +0000 hourly 1 By: What I’m Reading When I’m Not Busy Doing Twelve Zillion Other Things at Faux Real http://www.feministe.us/blog/archives/2007/04/10/cissie-and-malcontents/#comment-98410 What I’m Reading When I’m Not Busy Doing Twelve Zillion Other Things at Faux Real Fri, 13 Apr 2007 01:40:21 +0000 http://www.feministe.us/blog/archives/2007/04/10/plucked-this-offa-the-michfest-boards/#comment-98410 [...] itical, which is why our political enemies are hell bent on depriving us of those stories. Cissies and Malcontents: Cisgender is not a word chosen to replace an e [...] [...] itical, which is why our political enemies are hell bent on depriving us of those stories. Cissies and Malcontents: Cisgender is not a word chosen to replace an e [...]

]]> By: Kali http://www.feministe.us/blog/archives/2007/04/10/cissie-and-malcontents/#comment-98190 Kali Wed, 11 Apr 2007 22:55:59 +0000 http://www.feministe.us/blog/archives/2007/04/10/plucked-this-offa-the-michfest-boards/#comment-98190 I don't think anyone's said this yet, or at least not in so many words, but I love having a word for "cisgendered" because it <i>sets up a spectrum</i>. I mean, I can't claim to be transgendered. I'm not. But I am not exactly 100% cisgendered either. I used to contemplate transitioning before deciding that it wasn't exactly what I wanted. I should probably have explored my gender identity better than I have done, but lack of awareness of a spectrum, plus other personal factors kind of made it seem like a big, scary step to start deviating from "normal". Can I be transcurious? Anyway, my point is, once you have a word for "cisgendered" there is a possibility of examining the extent to which you actually are cisgendered. Similarly with "neurotypical." (Would "physiotypical" work for disabilities? ) They are very freeing words. Which is of course exactly why people who have an interest in enforcing conformity would choose to reject such words. I don’t think anyone’s said this yet, or at least not in so many words, but I love having a word for “cisgendered” because it sets up a spectrum. I mean, I can’t claim to be transgendered. I’m not. But I am not exactly 100% cisgendered either. I used to contemplate transitioning before deciding that it wasn’t exactly what I wanted. I should probably have explored my gender identity better than I have done, but lack of awareness of a spectrum, plus other personal factors kind of made it seem like a big, scary step to start deviating from “normal”. Can I be transcurious?
Anyway, my point is, once you have a word for “cisgendered” there is a possibility of examining the extent to which you actually are cisgendered. Similarly with “neurotypical.” (Would “physiotypical” work for disabilities? ) They are very freeing words. Which is of course exactly why people who have an interest in enforcing conformity would choose to reject such words.

]]> By: shannon http://www.feministe.us/blog/archives/2007/04/10/cissie-and-malcontents/#comment-98124 shannon Wed, 11 Apr 2007 18:22:13 +0000 http://www.feministe.us/blog/archives/2007/04/10/plucked-this-offa-the-michfest-boards/#comment-98124 Well, maybe southerners only use sissy, but if you use cissy to mock women for being girly well, you're a douchebag. By which I mean I agree. Well, maybe southerners only use sissy, but if you use cissy to mock women for being girly well, you’re a douchebag. By which I mean I agree.

]]> By: ekf http://www.feministe.us/blog/archives/2007/04/10/cissie-and-malcontents/#comment-98116 ekf Wed, 11 Apr 2007 17:59:37 +0000 http://www.feministe.us/blog/archives/2007/04/10/plucked-this-offa-the-michfest-boards/#comment-98116 prosphorus, thank you for your reply. I agree that my early post was deficient and agree with your objection. Thanks to you and all of the many posters who have been really helpful in describing the complexities and nuances. prosphorus, thank you for your reply. I agree that my early post was deficient and agree with your objection. Thanks to you and all of the many posters who have been really helpful in describing the complexities and nuances.

]]> By: piny http://www.feministe.us/blog/archives/2007/04/10/cissie-and-malcontents/#comment-98114 piny Wed, 11 Apr 2007 17:47:46 +0000 http://www.feministe.us/blog/archives/2007/04/10/plucked-this-offa-the-michfest-boards/#comment-98114 <blockquote>Ah, I was thinking that sissy was the term for effeminate and cissy was made up. Regional? </blockquote> I've seen it spelled both ways, although the former is I think much more common. But if it's used to ridicule any group <em>because it's reminiscent of sissy</em>, then it's inappropriate.

Ah, I was thinking that sissy was the term for effeminate and cissy was made up. Regional?

I’ve seen it spelled both ways, although the former is I think much more common. But if it’s used to ridicule any group because it’s reminiscent of sissy, then it’s inappropriate.

]]> By: shannon http://www.feministe.us/blog/archives/2007/04/10/cissie-and-malcontents/#comment-98112 shannon Wed, 11 Apr 2007 17:43:27 +0000 http://www.feministe.us/blog/archives/2007/04/10/plucked-this-offa-the-michfest-boards/#comment-98112 Ah, I was thinking that sissy was the term for effeminate and cissy was made up. Regional? Ah, I was thinking that sissy was the term for effeminate and cissy was made up. Regional?

]]> By: piny http://www.feministe.us/blog/archives/2007/04/10/cissie-and-malcontents/#comment-98109 piny Wed, 11 Apr 2007 17:16:11 +0000 http://www.feministe.us/blog/archives/2007/04/10/plucked-this-offa-the-michfest-boards/#comment-98109 Then yeah, I don't think that's appropriate. It's fair to point out the irony, and fair to point out that, ahem, "trannie" isn't exactly neutral, but "cissie" is also a derogatory term for effeminate people, and I can understand why a feminist would find it offensive. Then yeah, I don’t think that’s appropriate. It’s fair to point out the irony, and fair to point out that, ahem, “trannie” isn’t exactly neutral, but “cissie” is also a derogatory term for effeminate people, and I can understand why a feminist would find it offensive.

]]> By: Ysabel http://www.feministe.us/blog/archives/2007/04/10/cissie-and-malcontents/#comment-98108 Ysabel Wed, 11 Apr 2007 17:14:36 +0000 http://www.feministe.us/blog/archives/2007/04/10/plucked-this-offa-the-michfest-boards/#comment-98108 <blockquote>Practically speaking, outside of gender discussions, just how often do you think you will need to proclaim that your gender is cis, anyway? I’m guessing, if you are typical, that your gender is immediately identifiable just by looking, and whether you were born with the genitalia which our society assigns to that gender or not is nobody’s business. Don’t worry about proclaiming your cisgenderedness. Go ahead and keep telling people you are [whatever you are], and go ahead and keep it a secret that you were born that way.</blockquote>Thank you, Frumious B, this made my day.

Practically speaking, outside of gender discussions, just how often do you think you will need to proclaim that your gender is cis, anyway? I’m guessing, if you are typical, that your gender is immediately identifiable just by looking, and whether you were born with the genitalia which our society assigns to that gender or not is nobody’s business. Don’t worry about proclaiming your cisgenderedness. Go ahead and keep telling people you are [whatever you are], and go ahead and keep it a secret that you were born that way.

Thank you, Frumious B, this made my day.

]]> By: R. Mildred http://www.feministe.us/blog/archives/2007/04/10/cissie-and-malcontents/#comment-98107 R. Mildred Wed, 11 Apr 2007 17:07:28 +0000 http://www.feministe.us/blog/archives/2007/04/10/plucked-this-offa-the-michfest-boards/#comment-98107 <i>I’ve never once heard the term “cissies” and honestly, I don’t believe it really exists other than a creation of the author. </i> Ah, heh, umm... <a href="http://riverfont.blogspot.com/2007/03/what-bunch-of-cissies.html" rel="nofollow">weeeell</a>... But remember that I <i>am</i> a complete asshole, I have a reputation to maintain ffs... I’ve never once heard the term “cissies” and honestly, I don’t believe it really exists other than a creation of the author.

Ah, heh, umm… weeeell…

But remember that I am a complete asshole, I have a reputation to maintain ffs…

]]> By: shannon http://www.feministe.us/blog/archives/2007/04/10/cissie-and-malcontents/#comment-98106 shannon Wed, 11 Apr 2007 17:05:06 +0000 http://www.feministe.us/blog/archives/2007/04/10/plucked-this-offa-the-michfest-boards/#comment-98106 I agree that cissies isn't deragatory. (cisgendered, but androgynous) Also, post was good. I agree that cissies isn’t deragatory. (cisgendered, but androgynous) Also, post was good.

]]>