Sticks And Stones…

The problem is that words do hurt, words do kill.

We see it in the increase in self harm when children are confronted with hate.

How can cissexism affect a person’s mental health?
Experiencing cissexism* can lead to mental health conditions.

In a 2018 systematic review, researchers used a minority stress model to investigate the stressors that a minority group experiences.

These stressors include:

• discrimination and violence
• the energy that a minority group has to expend to protect themselves against this discrimination and violence
• a minority group’s internalization of negative stereotypes

These all contribute toward mental health conditions. A combination of these stressors may overwhelm a person’s ability to cope. 

The review looked at several studies through the minority stress model to investigate the effect of cissexism on a person’s mental health.

• People who are a part of the trans community and experience cissexism are likely to experience:
• depressive symptoms
• anxiety symptoms
• posttraumatic stress symptoms
• general psychological distress

[…]
How can it affect a transgender person’s physical health?
Cissexism can directly and indirectly affect a person’s health in multiple ways.
[…]
Violence and abuse
Violence against those who are transgender often comes from people they are close to, such as friends and family.

Some families reject people who are transgender, and this rejection can include physical confrontations.

It can also come in the form of:

• refusing to use gender-affirming language
• denying access to medical procedures
• cutting off financial support
• refusing access to the home

This can all cause feelings of isolation, low self-esteem, depression, and other adverse mental health outcomes.

Direct health effects
The 2015 critical review states that all of the above stressors can have immediate health effects on the body, including:

• an impact on a person’s diastolic blood pressure
• an increased chance of a cardiovascular event, such as stroke or heart attack
• elevated cortisol levels, which can affect a person’s physical and psychological health

The prolonged effects of chronic stress can lead to:

• hypertension, or high blood pressure
• diabetes
• anxiety
• depression
• substance use
• suicidality

[…]
How to be an ally and how to play a part in stopping cissexism
There are several ways to be an ally and play a part in stopping cissexism.

These include:

• never using cissexist slurs
• not asking personal questions about a person’s genitals, surgery, or sex life
• avoiding giving insults that sound like compliments, such as saying, “you look like a real girl”
• not making assumptions or believing in stereotypes of people who are transgender
• people educating themselves about the issues the trans community faces
• respecting people’s decisions on when and where they come out as transgender
• asking for and using a person’s preferred pronouns
• using gender-neutral language, such as “they”
• if it is safe to do so, speaking up and educating other people who are displaying cissexist tendencies or behaviors

Planned Parenthood note that if a person decides to speak up and educate others who are engaging in cissexist attitudes and behaviors, it is important to make sure they remain safe while doing so.

In some situations, it may be safer to remain quiet and walk away rather than addressing cissexism.

It is also important to remain calm and ask questions, as some people may not be aware that the language they are using is cissexist.

*The article defines cissexism as…

In this article, we will be replacing the term “transphobia” with “cissexism.” This is because the term “transphobia” inaccurately focuses on an individual’s irrational fears as opposed to the oppressive systems that can affect a person’s health.

Chose your words carefully because words do hurt.