CisBlog, Cissexual Issues and Current Affairs

“Right now, Girl Scouts of the U.S.A....is not being honest with us girls, its troops, its leaders, its parents or the American public,” the girl is quoted as saying. “Girl Scouts describes itself as an all-girl experience. With that label, families trust that the girls will be in an environment that is not only nurturing and sensitive to girls' needs, but also safe for girls.”

being cis about being comfortable with yourself - cis pride is about more than simply identifying yourself, it's about being yourself.

Roland Hulme: Why being thin is not a privilege

A great article, but I have to add a word of encouragement to all the cis out there:

... Since the late 1800s, a "sissy" has referred to a gender-nonconforming man, and even manly World Series MVP Ray Knight apologized earlier this summer for using "sissy" on TV.

So I watched as the Travel Channel devoted an hour's worth of programming to discussing the nation's "Manliest Restaurants." The show's language mirrored the linked article's phrases, such as claiming that "real men" go to such-and-such restaurant for the delightful cherry pie or what have you. And even The Huffington Post isn't off the hook on this one, as it uncritically published a press release in which Men's Health asserted that "sit-down restaurants are for sissies."

What is Cis, and why this blog?

Cis is short for cisgendered. Chances are, if you're reading this blog you could well be cisgendered yourself, even if you've never heard the word before in your life. That's because cisgenderedness is something that happens to many, many people, often during the very first moments of life.

Basically, most of us are born with one distinct biological sex. Accompanying that sex is an additional factor, termed gender, which is a set of socially desirable, or acceptable behaviours and characteristics people have come to expect of people based on their sex. For some of us (arguably, most of us) it feels natural to conform to our gender, but for others, it's next to impossible. Sometimes people take measures to change their gender altogether -these people become transgendered. For the rest of us, it's not a problem - and we are able to remain beautifully, fruitfully cis.

Being cis is about many things, but first of all, it's about being proud of who you are, no matter what. You were born male or female, and you own it. A proud cis is a proud man or woman who knows what the world expects of them and is only too happy to shine their light of masculinity or femininity as a beacon to others, who may not have that confidence which comes with being cis and proud. 

Being cis is also about being aware - aware that there are many other people out there who are also contemplating where they stand when it comes to gender - people who may be cis, but are experiencing difficulties knowing how to express themselves as cis males or cis females. Increasingly, we live in a world where out and out cis-ness can be seen as something to be ashamed of. It's not that at all, and if you're feeling uncomfortable about talking about your cis identity, or sharing it with others, we're here to help.