Harsh Realms
As part of my doctoral research, I’ve talked to trans community about their experiences of cisgenderism and cissexism (more commonly referred to as transphobia and cisnormativity).
I’ve chosen to use the ‘ism’ language, because the emphasis is on the cis-stem failure and violence it exposes trans people to. Phobia’s place anti-trans violence and bigotry as some irrational fear – we’re not objects of fear, we’re ordinary people and it’s a choice to demonize us; where as cisnormativity places the normative in the realm of cis-ness and ‘others’ trans – despite the fact that trans people are just as ordinary as anyone else.
In these conversations with community, were stories of dehumanisation, rooted in cisgenderism and cissexism. People shared their experiences of being denied access to their gender – where trans was a non-option – whilst simultaneously being stripped down to their trans identity, with all other complexity and multi-dimensionality denied.
What was also really strong in peoples stories was turning to community for survival and a way to opt-out of this cis-stem. Where the cis-stem reduced and erased trans people, community offered access to information, to possibility, to DIY healthcare, and to livable futures.
We exist in harsh realms, that wish to erase or eradicate us. The power has always been in community. Whether that’s online or local, being connected to other trans folk, sharing stories and information, is what helps us navigate outside the cis-stem (and learn how to navigate within it when needed).
You can read more in this article (it’s open access): https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/26895269.2026.2618644#abstract
Birdy Psychology 