A cisgender man, often shortened to "cis man," is a man who was assigned male at birth (AMAB) and identifies as a man.
Understanding Cisgender Identity
The term "cisgender" describes individuals whose gender identity aligns with the sex they were assigned at birth. This is in contrast to transgender individuals, whose gender identity differs from their assigned sex. According to the reference provided, a cisgender man is "someone assigned male at birth (AMAB) and who considers himself a boy or man."
Key Characteristics of a Cis Man
- Assigned Male at Birth (AMAB): A doctor or midwife identified the individual as male based on their physical characteristics at birth.
- Identifies as a Man: The individual's internal sense of self is that of a man. This is their gender identity.
- Gender Identity Matches Assigned Sex: This is the defining characteristic of being cisgender. The person's internal sense of being male aligns with their assigned sex of male.
Examples
To further clarify, here are some examples:
- A baby is born with male genitalia and is identified as male. As they grow up, they feel they are a boy and then a man. They are a cis man.
- An individual is born with male sex characteristics and is therefore assigned male at birth. They identify as a man throughout their life. They are a cis man.