A Protest Against "Cis"
Reflections on assimilation by a woman born transsexual.
I was born a boy. I was also born transsexual. I now am neither.
I find using "identity" as a justification for redefining sex harmful for both those like me and normal born members of society. I find the "cis" prefix derogatory, as its function is to demote those who in reality define womanhood to a mere subgroup of a brave new identity-based womanity. Moreover, contrary to its proponents' intent, prefixing its corollary, "trans," to man and woman does not magically change the way society sees its users. Rather, it confines them into a cubicle, permanently setting them apart as "trans forever."
When growing up I never could fit in with the other boys. I thought them cruel and they thought me strange. Even in adulthood it took me much effort to seem normal, and although I tried to tough it out, it eventually became obvious enough that my family gently pressured me to seek help. After thorough screening the doctors determined my hormone balance was off kilter, that I likely had stopped masculinizing in late puberty, that I was sane, and yes... that I was born transsexual. They offered to help me by changing my body to make it more congruent with my natural behavior and disposition.
Contrary to what seems the norm today I never thought of my disorder as an identity. Neither did my doctors. They recognized it as a congenital condition only correctable by radically altering my morphology. The treatment was successful. After my sex change those things that had seemed strange about me fell in place. I did not need to ask society to accommodate or accept me as a woman. The onus was on me to change what made me not fit in as I was born.
This is diametrically opposed to the goal of mainstream trans activism that revolves around identity, and demands society to accommodate transitioners' needs by redefining "man" and "woman" as mere social constructs that can be expanded at will to be more "inclusive."
The treatment I underwent neither changed my chromosomes nor made me fertile. Its purpose was to correct my physical features to bring them to congruence with the way I think, move and communicate. It worked. Society now sees me as just another unremarkable female—regardless of dress, undress or situation. The government, recognizing this, also changed my records. While at birth correctly observed to be male, after surgery I was assigned by the magistrate "female at birth."
My womanhood has nothing to do with inclusivity. Rather, it could be described as a naturally occurring legal and medical fiction that results from how I now am categorized and how I fit and function within society. I am not a product of my identity. My identity is a product of how society positions and treats me. I am a woman because, post-treatment, society considers me normal as a woman.
I have chosen to refer to myself as "cis" within trans discourse as a protest against use of the label, and as a gesture of solidarity with my sisters. Given that its promoters claim that male and female are just social structures that one can identify into, they surely should agree that this also applies to the structure they themselves have created. The inconsistency of their position is illustrated by the frenzy with which they condemn its use by me and others whom they would lock within their artificial minority for life.
Transsexualism is a congenital disorder. The way to normalcy for those born transsexual is through assimilation. After completion of medical treatment it is up to each individual to find his or her way and place within society. It is not society's duty to dismantle its norms, mores and structure in order to accommodate individual identities.