C
Terms: Cisgender, Child Abuse, Consent, Cultural Appropriation
Child Abuse
Phonetic Pronunciation: chīld uh-byooz
Definition:
Any action or failure to act by a caregiver or person in a position of trust that causes harm, risk of harm, or threat of harm to a person under 18. It can be physical, emotional, sexual, or involve neglect.
History:
Public recognition of child abuse increased in the 1960s with medical and legal research identifying what was then called “battered child syndrome.” Over time, the definition expanded beyond physical harm to include emotional abuse, sexual abuse, and neglect. Child protection laws and mandatory reporting policies developed in many countries in response to growing awareness.
Current Usage:
The term is used in legal, social work, healthcare, and educational contexts to describe harm or risk of harm to minors. It appears in criminal law, child welfare policy, trauma research, and advocacy work. Contemporary discussions also focus on prevention, trauma-informed care, survivor support, and systemic factors (such as poverty or intergenerational trauma) that may increase risk.
Examples:
A situational example is: A teacher notices that a student frequently comes to school without adequate food, clothing for the weather, or supervision at home. After documenting patterns and following school policy, the teacher files a report with child protective services to ensure the child’s safety.
A sentence example is: "Child abuse includes physical, emotional, or sexual harm, as well as neglect, inflicted on a minor by a caregiver or trusted adult."
Perspective:
Child abuse is a preventable public health issue. Early intervention, education for caregivers, community support systems, and mandatory reporting laws are essential tools for protecting children and reducing long-term harm.
Responses to child abuse must protect children while also recognizing structural inequalities. Families facing poverty, housing instability, or limited access to mental health care may require supportive services rather than purely punitive interventions.
Did You Know?
Research on Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) shows that exposure to abuse or neglect in childhood is linked to higher risks of long-term health challenges. Early support and protective relationships can significantly reduce these impacts.
Sources:
Government of Canada - Child Abuse: Information and Resources
World Health Organization (WHO) - Child maltreatment overview
Cisgender
Phonetic Pronunciation: siss-JEN-duhr
Definition:
A term with latin roots, originated from online subgroups and queer literature which refers to an individual whose gender identity, or perception of their gender, corresponds with their assigned sex at birth (1).
History:
The word “cisgender” is a combination of two words, “gender,” and the latin prefix “cis” meaning “on this side,” which acts as an antonym of the prefix “trans,” which means “on the other side.” The official usage of the word “cisgender” is noted as 1994 on a newsgroup titled “alt.transgendered” on the website Usenet. This platform, an early online discussion network, played a significant role in the term’s initial spread, as it reached a wide but largely passive audience of readers. Although some alternative origin accounts exist, including claims that the term was coined slightly later by Carl Buijs, its roots can be traced to this period of online discourse, with earlier uses of the cis/trans distinction appearing as far back as early 20th-century sexological literature (2).
Current Usage:
Utilization of the word has remained relatively consistent, with its utilization primarily used in activist spaces, and the term gaining wider spread recognition amongst the general populace. Its addition into mainstream dictionaries, like the Oxford English Dictionary in 2015, however, reflected broader shifts in how gender identity was discussed and acknowledged in public and academic contexts (2).
Examples:
Situational Example: An individual who was assigned female at birth identifies as a woman, and presents in ways socially associated with femininity, such as using she/her pronouns and expressing herself in ways that align with her gender identity.; Sentence example: “He identifies a cisgender man because his gender identity corresponds with his sex assigned at birth.”
Perspective:
Some argue that it’s essential to have a word that denotes someone being “just usual” as it establishes and validates the idea that an individual’s sense of self can differ from their anatomical and biological self, and that there exists a slew of identities other than the “default.” This distinction also allows for greater awareness of inequality, pushing us towards a future where certain biases, like cisnormativity, are recognized and challenged (3).
Did You Know?
The prefix “cis” is also used in multiple scientific disciplines, such as chemistry to describe molecules whose components are on the same side of a structure, with the idea of alignment or “sameness” existing across multiple fields (4).
Sources:
(2) Tracing Terminology Researching Early Uses of "Cisgender"
(3) Explainer: What Does It Mean to be 'cisgender'?
(4) The Word “Cisgender” Has Scientific Roots
Resources:
Consent
Phonetic Pronunciation: kənˈsent
Definition:
Consent is to give permission or agreement.
History:
In ancient civilizations, consent was governed by social hierarchy and property laws. For example, in ancient Rome and Greece, sexual autonomy was dictated by that person's class and gender. Enslaved people and women's bodies were seen as property and had no protection against sexual violence. In feudal Europe, women were considered subordinates to their husbands, which made marital rape legal and culturally accepted. During colonial rule, colonizers weaponized sexual abuse as a tool of oppression against colonized populations. However, some Indigenous communities practice consensual relationship structures that emphasize mutual agreement.
In research and medical contexts, the term informed consent first appeared in 1957; however, it was not commonly practiced. As expressed in the Hippocratic oath, healthcare professionals must do no harm. Withholding information from patients and deception became common to prevent scaring the patients. There was also little belief that patients can make appropriate medical choices. The situation is similar in research involving human subjects. In fact, research was often conducted on slaves and servants without their consent.
Current Usage:
Currently, consent is often used in the fields of law, medicine, research, and sexual consent. In tort law, consent can be expressed or implied. It is judged based on whether a ""reasonable person"" could conclude that consent was given. Additionally, consent must be given by a person with the capacity to give consent. The person must not be intoxicated, mentally incompetent, or under duress.
In medicine, consent to treatment is considered valid if the patient is ""informed"" of the treatment's anticipated outcome, potential risks, and the alternatives available.
In research, participants have to consent to participate in a research study. Researchers have the responsibility to inform the participants on the purpose of the research, the risks and benefits, and how their data will be used. Participants may also withdraw from the research at any time.
In sexual consent, Canada defines it as ""voluntary agreement of the complainant to engage in the sexual activity in question"" without the exploitation of ""trust, power, or authority."" No consent is obtained when it is expressed by ""a person other than the complainant"" or when the complainant is incapable. Currently, Canada's age of consent is 16 years.
Examples:
Situational Example: A person asking, ""May I hold your hand?” and only doing so after receiving a clear “yes” instead of assuming.
Sentence Example: I did not give my consent for my photo to be used in the advertisement.
Perspective:
In 2022, affirmative consent became law in New South Wales (NSW), which requires proactive and ongoing communication during every sexual act. Affirmative consent is also known as “yes means yes.” However, a feminist critique argues that this is insufficient, as it fails to address the underlying patriarchal structures, gender inequality, and power imbalances that compel compliance.
In pediatric settings, parental consent is required for children to receive medical treatment. In this context, parental consent is a mechanism to protect the child’s welfare and act in their best interests, rather than a protection of parents’ autonomy. While parents can legally authorize care, obtaining the child’s ascent (agreement) is necessary to respect their personhood.
Did You Know?
In Canada, there is no stipulated age of consent for medical treatment, except in Quebec, which is 14 years.
Sources:
History and Challenges of Consent in Society
Informed Consent: History of Informed Consent
Consent Defense and Intentional Torts
Consent: A guide for Canadian physicians
A Definition of Consent to Sexual Activity
Age of Consent to Sexual Activity
Children and bioethics: clarifying consent and assent in medical and research settings
Cultural Appropriation
Phonetic Pronunciation: kuhl-chuh-ruhl uh-proh-pree-ay-shuhn; /ˌkəlCHərəl əˌprōprēˈāSHən/
Definition:
The adoption, without consent or acknowledgment, of parts of a marginalized group's culture by a dominant group, especially in a deriding or disrespectful way.
History:
The term cultural appropriation was first used in a 1945 essay by Arthur E. Christy about Orientalism. However, its more widespread use originated in academic circles in 1980s critiques of the effects of colonialism. The issue of cultural appropriation itself had been identified long before the term came to prominence, notably among Harlem Renaissance figures and in a 1976 article by Kenneth Coutts‐Smith about 'cultural colonialism' which was highly influential in shaping the term despite not directly using it.
Current Usage:
Today, cultural appropriation is a mainstream term with widespread usage far beyond its academic roots, and has sparked discussion about the status of cultural symbols in museums, the fashion industry, in sports, and elsewhere. It is often contrasted with another term, cultural appreciation, to provide guidelines for even and positive cross-cultural interaction.
Examples:
Situational example: A white person wearing dreadlocks or cornrows because they see them as trendy.
Sentence example: The woman was accused of cultural appropriation for her use of Native American war bonnets.
Perspective:
In the mainstream, the discussion of cultural appropriation has emphasized cultural authenticity, permission and credit for using parts of others' cultures, and the removal or change of symbols deemed to be complicit in cultural appropriation. For example, the Edmonton Eskimos and Washington Redskins football teams were rebranded to the Elks and Commanders respectively amid widespread criticism of the perjorative nature of their names and logos, although many other names which have been deemed offensive remain.
Afua Hirsch, a British journalist and author who has written extensively on racial identity and addressing the legacies of colonialism, notes that many discussions about cultural appropriation have focused on individual controversies rather than on tackling systemic issues. Meanwhile, right-of-center commentators such as George Chesterton have claimed that the discourse around cultural appropriation inhibits cross-cultural connection by promoting the idea that culture is owned rather than shared.
Sources:
cultural appropriation, n. meanings, etymology and more | Oxford English Dictionary
Cultural appropriation | Definition, History, Meaning, & Examples,
https://www.oxfordreference.com/display/10.1093/oi/authority.20110803095652789
https://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/article/the-trouble-with-cultural-appropriation