Earlier today, Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, took to Twitter to express his view that the terms “cis” and “cisgender” are considered slurs on the platform. Musk’s tweet was in response to a user who had been subjected to harassment from trans activists for rejecting the word “cis.” Musk stated that repeated targeted harassment will result in temporary suspensions for the offending accounts.
Although Musk is no longer the CEO of Twitter, he still maintains ownership of the platform. It remains unknown whether this policy is officially endorsed by Twitter’s current CEO, Linda Yaccarino. In a subsequent exchange with writer Katherine Brodsky, Musk stated that individuals have the freedom to identify themselves however they choose.
Musk’s stance against the term “cisgender” comes at a time when there is an increasing hostility towards transgender individuals and when he has aligned himself with far-right figures. While details about this specific cisgender policy on Twitter are limited, it is important to examine the origins of the term and why there is such controversy surrounding it.
The term “cisgender” refers to individuals whose gender identity aligns with the sex they were assigned at birth. In contrast, transgender individuals do not identify with the sex they were assigned at birth. Non-binary individuals do not conform to the traditional male or female genders and can identify as having no gender or a fluctuating gender identity.
The origin of the term “cisgender” can be traced back to a retired researcher named Dana Defosse. In 1994, while writing a paper on the health of trans adolescents, Defosse sought a way to describe individuals who were not transgender without perpetuating the notion of “otherness” associated with transgender identity. Drawing inspiration from chemistry, where molecules with atoms grouped on the same side are referred to as “cis-” and those with atoms grouped on opposite sides are called “trans-,” Defosse coined the term “cisgender.” The term gained recognition and was officially included in the Oxford English Dictionary and Merriam-Webster Dictionary in 2016.
Defosse acknowledges that the term “cisgender” has faced criticism and sparked discomfort among some individuals. However, she argues that the word itself is not to blame. The discomfort arises from the implicit suggestion that there are more gender identities beyond the traditional binary of “man” and “woman.” Defosse believes that those who benefit from traditional gender roles may feel threatened by the acknowledgement of diverse gender identities, leading to backlash. She connects the backlash against transgender rights to efforts to undermine women’s rights, such as repealing Roe v. Wade.
In recent months, Musk has made controversial moves on Twitter. He removed rules that prohibited deliberate misgendering and deadnaming of transgender users and came into conflict with Twitter’s content moderation team when he promoted a transphobic documentary. These actions have sparked criticism and led to the resignation of a top Twitter executive in charge of content moderation.
In conclusion, Elon Musk’s tweet labeling “cis” and “cisgender” as slurs on Twitter has sparked debate and controversy. It is crucial to examine the origins and significance of the term “cisgender” and the reasons behind the backlash against it. The issue of transgender rights remains a hot topic, with implications for both gender identity and broader social and political concerns.
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