[Ads-l] cis/cissy

Laurence Horn laurence.horn at YALE.EDU
Sat Nov 21 15:36:56 UTC 2015


I was just introduced at a workshop by a dean who excerpted, from a teaching evaluation form I had never read, the comment that Professor Horn was a very sympathetic instructor for someone who is a straight cisgender male.  And of course "cis(gender)" is one of the more salient retronyms of the past decade.  For some of us classically trained oldsters (do I speak for you, Wilson?), the term inevitably evokes a Caesarian nostalgia for trans-Alpine vs. cis-Alpine Gaul.

"cissy" I hadn't heard.  Or if I had, I'd misanalyzed it.  

LH

> On Nov 21, 2015, at 12:14 AM, Geoffrey Nunberg <nunberg at ISCHOOL.BERKELEY.EDU> wrote:
> 
> … as in “cis-“ Cf wikipedia:
> 
> Cisgender (often abbreviated to simply cis) describes related types of gender identity <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__en.wikipedia.org_wiki_Gender-5Fidentity&d=AwIFaQ&c=-dg2m7zWuuDZ0MUcV7Sdqw&r=wFp3X4Mu39hB2bf13gtz0ZpW1TsSxPIWYiZRsMFFaLQ&m=CARTZC1Cu-gJ_U_xHDGMhYWGXpG2Z-rZc-aOOamjcAY&s=wDoWUqUhqhTGzHEz5cSXcZd58KcTwTZ7BZbqIFPPFYI&e= > perceptions, where individuals' experiences of their own gender <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__en.wikipedia.org_wiki_Gender&d=AwIFaQ&c=-dg2m7zWuuDZ0MUcV7Sdqw&r=wFp3X4Mu39hB2bf13gtz0ZpW1TsSxPIWYiZRsMFFaLQ&m=CARTZC1Cu-gJ_U_xHDGMhYWGXpG2Z-rZc-aOOamjcAY&s=KDryOcFr81hyTK8Xai2o1d62lIKgAVFz1PwXosBmAg0&e= > agree with the sex <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__en.wikipedia.org_wiki_Sex&d=AwIFaQ&c=-dg2m7zWuuDZ0MUcV7Sdqw&r=wFp3X4Mu39hB2bf13gtz0ZpW1TsSxPIWYiZRsMFFaLQ&m=CARTZC1Cu-gJ_U_xHDGMhYWGXpG2Z-rZc-aOOamjcAY&s=ls6VrlXGiLo3WlE4kpouKG2WTmZ8KbyMczBi2_r5LD4&e= > they were assigned <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__en.wikipedia.org_wiki_Sex-5Fassignment&d=AwIFaQ&c=-dg2m7zWuuDZ0MUcV7Sdqw&r=wFp3X4Mu39hB2bf13gtz0ZpW1TsSxPIWYiZRsMFFaLQ&m=CARTZC1Cu-gJ_U_xHDGMhYWGXpG2Z-rZc-aOOamjcAY&s=nZFiUiMpr23prKq4yaNsEvGJ8M9sZb3g7QfO1OlSHjE&e= > at birth.[1] <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__en.wikipedia.org_wiki_Cisgender-23cite-5Fnote-2D1&d=AwIFaQ&c=-dg2m7zWuuDZ0MUcV7Sdqw&r=wFp3X4Mu39hB2bf13gtz0ZpW1TsSxPIWYiZRsMFFaLQ&m=CARTZC1Cu-gJ_U_xHDGMhYWGXpG2Z-rZc-aOOamjcAY&s=ccRtm_igEquoXFHAEQ6yqK_q8MkagdzlgT6X7CEmDLA&e= > Sociologists Kristen Schilt and Laurel Westbrook define cisgender as a label for "individuals who have a match between the gender they were assigned at birth, their bodies, and their personal identity".[2] <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__en.wikipedia.org_wiki_Cisgender-23cite-5Fnote-2DSchilt-2D2&d=AwIFaQ&c=-dg2m7zWuuDZ0MUcV7Sdqw&r=wFp3X4Mu39hB2bf13gtz0ZpW1TsSxPIWYiZRsMFFaLQ&m=CARTZC1Cu-gJ_U_xHDGMhYWGXpG2Z-rZc-aOOamjcAY&s=tdcNKZqZPKmxCmdmq6xk5dkndF-zqoLdulZRI-zc4HE&e= > They see cisgender as a complement to transgender <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__en.wikipedia.org_wiki_Transgender&d=AwIFaQ&c=-dg2m7zWuuDZ0MUcV7Sdqw&r=wFp3X4Mu39hB2bf13gtz0ZpW1TsSxPIWYiZRsMFFaLQ&m=CARTZC1Cu-gJ_U_xHDGMhYWGXpG2Z-rZc-aOOamjcAY&s=0KylGMOrnURjAMPetMY_5OFXp6_pXMOljIzgl_HuedI&e= >.[2] <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__en.wikipedia.org_wiki_Cisgender-23cite-5Fnote-2DSchilt-2D2&d=AwIFaQ&c=-dg2m7zWuuDZ0MUcV7Sdqw&r=wFp3X4Mu39hB2bf13gtz0ZpW1TsSxPIWYiZRsMFFaLQ&m=CARTZC1Cu-gJ_U_xHDGMhYWGXpG2Z-rZc-aOOamjcAY&s=tdcNKZqZPKmxCmdmq6xk5dkndF-zqoLdulZRI-zc4HE&e= >
> There are a number of derivatives of the terms in use, including cis male for "male assigned male at birth", cis female for "female assigned female at birth", analogously "cis man" and "cis woman", as well as cissexism <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__en.wikipedia.org_wiki_Cissexism&d=AwIFaQ&c=-dg2m7zWuuDZ0MUcV7Sdqw&r=wFp3X4Mu39hB2bf13gtz0ZpW1TsSxPIWYiZRsMFFaLQ&m=CARTZC1Cu-gJ_U_xHDGMhYWGXpG2Z-rZc-aOOamjcAY&s=fhl1wEMYu3aRdc0QNxPNKAfgomeKFdoW55Z8Wy9yJn4&e= > (or "cissexual assumption" or "cisnormativity”).
> 
> Maybe “cis" should be on the WOTY list. Not surprisingly, “cissy” is out there, as well.
> https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__synthesisweekly.com_no-2Dcissy-2Dquestions-2Dsaidhe-2Dsaid-2Dconversation-2Dtransgenderism_&d=AwIFaQ&c=-dg2m7zWuuDZ0MUcV7Sdqw&r=wFp3X4Mu39hB2bf13gtz0ZpW1TsSxPIWYiZRsMFFaLQ&m=CARTZC1Cu-gJ_U_xHDGMhYWGXpG2Z-rZc-aOOamjcAY&s=n2NcIdaKy6dk0sogLD7DQyaAdCD5iZS1eqWlujCbkAg&e=  <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__synthesisweekly.com_no-2Dcissy-2Dquestions-2Dsaidhe-2Dsaid-2Dconversation-2Dtransgenderism_&d=AwIFaQ&c=-dg2m7zWuuDZ0MUcV7Sdqw&r=wFp3X4Mu39hB2bf13gtz0ZpW1TsSxPIWYiZRsMFFaLQ&m=CARTZC1Cu-gJ_U_xHDGMhYWGXpG2Z-rZc-aOOamjcAY&s=n2NcIdaKy6dk0sogLD7DQyaAdCD5iZS1eqWlujCbkAg&e= >
> https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__feministrag.wordpress.com_2014_11_20_one-2Dcissies-2Dtake-2Don-2Dtrannies-2Dmis-2Dgendering-2Dpassing_&d=AwIFaQ&c=-dg2m7zWuuDZ0MUcV7Sdqw&r=wFp3X4Mu39hB2bf13gtz0ZpW1TsSxPIWYiZRsMFFaLQ&m=CARTZC1Cu-gJ_U_xHDGMhYWGXpG2Z-rZc-aOOamjcAY&s=-wwKgV_5LhAE1WLtUT8GQEbpgS2Vb3x1NhY5Pwm-4_s&e=  <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__feministrag.wordpress.com_2014_11_20_one-2Dcissies-2Dtake-2Don-2Dtrannies-2Dmis-2Dgendering-2Dpassing_&d=AwIFaQ&c=-dg2m7zWuuDZ0MUcV7Sdqw&r=wFp3X4Mu39hB2bf13gtz0ZpW1TsSxPIWYiZRsMFFaLQ&m=CARTZC1Cu-gJ_U_xHDGMhYWGXpG2Z-rZc-aOOamjcAY&s=-wwKgV_5LhAE1WLtUT8GQEbpgS2Vb3x1NhY5Pwm-4_s&e= >
> 
> Geoff
> 
> 
>> From: Wilson Gray <hwgray at GMAIL.COM <mailto:hwgray at GMAIL.COM>>
>> Subject: Re: Singular they is Web of Language Word of the Year
>> Date: November 20, 2015 at 7:43:15 PM PST
>> 
>> 
>> On Fri, Nov 20, 2015 at 1:46 PM, Geoffrey Nunberg <
>> nunberg at ischool.berkeley.edu <mailto:nunberg at ischool.berkeley.edu>> wrote:
>> 
>>> cissy
>> 
>> 
>> Is this "cissy" the _cissy_ of the name of the instrumentals by The Meters,
>> the "Cissy Strut" and "Sophisticated Cissy"?
>> 
>> https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.youtube.com_watch-3Fv-3D4-5FiC0MyIykM&d=AwIFaQ&c=-dg2m7zWuuDZ0MUcV7Sdqw&r=wFp3X4Mu39hB2bf13gtz0ZpW1TsSxPIWYiZRsMFFaLQ&m=CARTZC1Cu-gJ_U_xHDGMhYWGXpG2Z-rZc-aOOamjcAY&s=9BSc-yOgaL-WXbrX1fnx2p8MfK1avmWI_aFqlMoIE1A&e=  <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.youtube.com_watch-3Fv-3D4-5FiC0MyIykM&d=AwIFaQ&c=-dg2m7zWuuDZ0MUcV7Sdqw&r=wFp3X4Mu39hB2bf13gtz0ZpW1TsSxPIWYiZRsMFFaLQ&m=CARTZC1Cu-gJ_U_xHDGMhYWGXpG2Z-rZc-aOOamjcAY&s=9BSc-yOgaL-WXbrX1fnx2p8MfK1avmWI_aFqlMoIE1A&e= >
>> https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__en.wikipedia.org_wiki_Cissy-5FStrut&d=AwIFaQ&c=-dg2m7zWuuDZ0MUcV7Sdqw&r=wFp3X4Mu39hB2bf13gtz0ZpW1TsSxPIWYiZRsMFFaLQ&m=CARTZC1Cu-gJ_U_xHDGMhYWGXpG2Z-rZc-aOOamjcAY&s=6frvnyczA099WBpzb0onTSV-bkGxEUXDXq1pDU1ZhkY&e=  <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__en.wikipedia.org_wiki_Cissy-5FStrut&d=AwIFaQ&c=-dg2m7zWuuDZ0MUcV7Sdqw&r=wFp3X4Mu39hB2bf13gtz0ZpW1TsSxPIWYiZRsMFFaLQ&m=CARTZC1Cu-gJ_U_xHDGMhYWGXpG2Z-rZc-aOOamjcAY&s=6frvnyczA099WBpzb0onTSV-bkGxEUXDXq1pDU1ZhkY&e= >.
> 
> 
>> https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.youtube.com_watch-3Fv-3Dvtw9NEF4On0&d=AwIFaQ&c=-dg2m7zWuuDZ0MUcV7Sdqw&r=wFp3X4Mu39hB2bf13gtz0ZpW1TsSxPIWYiZRsMFFaLQ&m=CARTZC1Cu-gJ_U_xHDGMhYWGXpG2Z-rZc-aOOamjcAY&s=xfElak-yFKlBMw-ygTTqrxt0DqeDbWOf1FpYIWr7CAs&e=  <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.youtube.com_watch-3Fv-3Dvtw9NEF4On0&d=AwIFaQ&c=-dg2m7zWuuDZ0MUcV7Sdqw&r=wFp3X4Mu39hB2bf13gtz0ZpW1TsSxPIWYiZRsMFFaLQ&m=CARTZC1Cu-gJ_U_xHDGMhYWGXpG2Z-rZc-aOOamjcAY&s=xfElak-yFKlBMw-ygTTqrxt0DqeDbWOf1FpYIWr7CAs&e= >
>> 
>> Here, "cissy" is a P.C.-like re-spelling of BE "sissy" = "fag." The
>> "sophisticated sissy" is the name of a popular dance that, IME in L.A.,
>> preceded the composition of the music. Sometimes, a dance inspires the
>> composition of a song; sometimes, a song motivates the invention of a dance.
>> 
>> Youneverknow.
>> -- 
>> -Wilson
>> -----
>> All say, "How hard it is that we have to die!"---a strange complaint to
>> come from the mouths of people who have had to live.
>> -Mark Twain
>> 
>> ------------------------------------------------------------
>> The American Dialect Society - https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.americandialect.org&d=AwIFaQ&c=-dg2m7zWuuDZ0MUcV7Sdqw&r=wFp3X4Mu39hB2bf13gtz0ZpW1TsSxPIWYiZRsMFFaLQ&m=CARTZC1Cu-gJ_U_xHDGMhYWGXpG2Z-rZc-aOOamjcAY&s=DiFooky1lRiKC4LRk786vcLSQOzvW1lVyAiyMrEztSI&e=  <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.americandialect.org_&d=AwIFaQ&c=-dg2m7zWuuDZ0MUcV7Sdqw&r=wFp3X4Mu39hB2bf13gtz0ZpW1TsSxPIWYiZRsMFFaLQ&m=CARTZC1Cu-gJ_U_xHDGMhYWGXpG2Z-rZc-aOOamjcAY&s=2kqUOvxiO-frih7AwjguyV6_5RK1YhWZK3ji-eLsLxg&e= >
> ------------------------------------------------------------
> The American Dialect Society - https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.americandialect.org&d=AwIFaQ&c=-dg2m7zWuuDZ0MUcV7Sdqw&r=wFp3X4Mu39hB2bf13gtz0ZpW1TsSxPIWYiZRsMFFaLQ&m=CARTZC1Cu-gJ_U_xHDGMhYWGXpG2Z-rZc-aOOamjcAY&s=DiFooky1lRiKC4LRk786vcLSQOzvW1lVyAiyMrEztSI&e= 

------------------------------------------------------------
The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org



More information about the Ads-l mailing list