Why are so many transwomen computer programmers/engineers/IT?

[MaidofOrleans]

Let me make this clear because apparently people are not seeing the point of what I posted.

When I talk about the trans female community at large i'm talking about girls all over the world, girls with little or no opportunity even presented to them because of their status as trans women. That is both trans and women.

The question of this thread is why so many trans women are programmers/engineers/IT. I am pointing out that not many are, it just seems that many are based on our little community here of mostly white/middle class/developed world trans women.

You are talking about how you would have done better in school had you transitioned early. Many trans women do not even have the opportunity to go to school.

I'm just pushing the view of the bigger picture, just telling as I see it. It's not an opinion it's just facts, facts that are upsetting but real and must be a constant reminder to us that we are struggling not for our rights every day but the rights of others like us who suffer.

[Emily Aster]

The question of this thread is why so many trans women are programmers/engineers/IT. I am pointing out that not many are, it just seems that many are based on our little community here of mostly white/middle class/developed world trans women.

I agree with that. I was just answering another question.

When computer geeks want information, they hit the internet and they all kind of land in a common pot, like this forum, which is not to say that non-computer geeks won't land here. You can't look at this forum and consider it a real-world example of how all trans people are. If I wasn't good with computers, I probably wouldn't even be on this site or any like it. I'd be looking for people in the real world to communicate with about this instead. Even then, I'd find groups of people with similar interests to my own just because they're the type of people I'm going to click with the best. Maybe we should try missionary style groups where we just travel the world with the sole intention of meeting other trans people in different living environments.

[anya921]

The question of this thread is why so many trans women are programmers/engineers/IT. I am pointing out that not many are, it just seems that many are based on our little community here of mostly white/middle class/developed world trans women.

You guys and gals are really so lucky to be born in the developed part of the world.  and speaking for someone who is from a developing country most trans people, specially trans girls are having such a hard time here. If you are born to a family respected by society who can break the social barrier then you will be safe given the fact that you family is supporting you. But still you have to wait atleast you finish your studies to convince them that you are not crazy. But once you transition people will not look down on you because of your family background. They will just see you as someone really special. 

Else it will be a entrapment for a life and even if you transition you will be marginalized. Only way out for this part of the world is, be patient, finish your studies, get a good job then transition and fight like hell against the social norms to get the equal opportunities. People will always find a reason to look down on you and marginalize you.  But till then You should be able to hide all you inner feelings. Thats the Ugly truth here in Sri Lanka

[Carrie Liz]

Let me make this clear because apparently people are not seeing the point of what I posted.

When I talk about the trans female community at large i'm talking about girls all over the world, girls with little or no opportunity even presented to them because of their status as trans women. That is both trans and women.

The question of this thread is why so many trans women are programmers/engineers/IT. I am pointing out that not many are, it just seems that many are based on our little community here of mostly white/middle class/developed world trans women.

You are talking about how you would have done better in school had you transitioned early. Many trans women do not even have the opportunity to go to school.

I'm just pushing the view of the bigger picture, just telling as I see it. It's not an opinion it's just facts, facts that are upsetting but real and must be a constant reminder to us that we are struggling not for our rights every day but the rights of others like us who suffer.

I'm sorry, I really meant no offense to the struggles of the community at large. It's just that the topic was veering off into questioning whether professional advancement was more common among late-transitioners who were already established professionally, or early-transitioners due to the whole glass ceiling thing. Again, I'm sorry, I didn't mean any offense to anyone, I was just throwing in my two cents to the early/late transition debate that was starting.

[Kevin Peña]

"Why are so many transwomen computer programmers/engineers/IT?"

Because they're... NERDS! 

[Nero]

The fear of actual physical labor?

I retreat in terror at the mere thought of heavy lifting and I'm a dude so... 

[translora]

This is an interesting subject. I do wonder if there is any statistical information which would back up the idea that more transwomen have an interest/aptitude in systems than the general population. Flipping that over, it would be interesting to know if an interest in technology is in any way a predictor of future trans issues. (My hunch is that there is no such data, and if it existed, we'd be surprised to see that it wouldn't actually support the anecdotes.)

But my own story certainly fits that narrative. Shy as a child, I always sought out activities which I could do by myself, especially creative or exploratory activities. When I sat down at a computer terminal for the first time (MECC, for you old-timers), I was instantly in heaven. My shyness faded away because there were simply no social considerations to be managed. I was free from behaving in any sort of way or hiding the questions about gender that I carried around with me. Not having to deal with other people fit my needs perfectly, and a lifelong love was born. (I have similar loves in music and writing.)

In my case, it was sort of like finding computers was roughly equivalent to getting dressed. It was a world of safety in which I could shed the manufactured me and just be my whole self.

Lora

[Brooke777]

This is an interesting subject. I do wonder if there is any statistical information which would back up the idea that more transwomen have an interest/aptitude in systems than the general population. Flipping that over, it would be interesting to know if an interest in technology is in any way a predictor of future trans issues. (My hunch is that there is no such data, and if it existed, we'd be surprised to see that it wouldn't actually support the anecdotes.)

I personally don't think there is any correlation. I have no interest in technology aside from my smart phone which I can't live without. I just have a talent to be able to figure complex things out. To me, it is easy and boring. My true passion lies in psychology. I initially did not go into the technology field. I went into the military and was placed in the technology field.

[oZma]

There seems to be a huge correlation between being transgender and having a job as a computer programmer, computer engineer, or an IT job, among other computer geek professions. Myself including, I am a math / CS major.

Why is this?

forgive me for not reading the entire thread but my 2 cents say

1. computers don't care about your gender, they don't judge
2. computer science is about problem solving... and for us we all have spent lifetimes trying to solve our gender problem.  we became very analytical about gender, this spilled over into other areas.

[Elspeth]

I kind of suspect it may be just that those with early access to computers may be more likely to have spent a lot of time on the net and discovered they were trans. More access to information. The percentage will probably go down as the computer raised kids get older.

Yes. You don't want to base your sample on those you'll find on a relatively obscure 'net forum. Seems to me the population here now is a lot less heavily skewed to IT than it was when I was first connecting via computer with transwomen before the Web was born. I mentioned a trans sister who was a kind of mentor to me (and local friend) before my now almost 19-year-old was born. She was very heavy IT, and so were well over half the transwomen on the forums. The distribution in face-to-face support groups, though, was very different (and as others have pointed out, global patterns for transwomen are almost certainly very, very different than those on this forum).  I would suspect a forum like this one to be quite skewed and unrepresentative, even though IT jobs are now more numerous and varied than they were back then.

[Zumbagirl]

forgive me for not reading the entire thread but my 2 cents say

1. computers don't care about your gender, they don't judge
2. computer science is about problem solving... and for us we all have spent lifetimes trying to solve our gender problem.  we became very analytical about gender, this spilled over into other areas.

Take out the word computers and put instead dogs and you'll see why I love dogs

[Amanda1963]

Interesting question, yes I'm another engineer trans woman, hired by an big IT company as R&D researcher that learned programming in a venerable PDP-11 and using punched cards, and now working as  researcher on photonic networks projects. wow. But now, when i meet face to face with other trans-sisters i discovered a wide set of sisters working on very different professional fields, hair stylists, waitress, automotion, carpenters, heavy industry welders, a deputy of the government of Madrid, journalists and others sadly unemployed, but the percentage on IT people continues high.

I don't know the reason, but i think this is related to two phenomenon.

1: The network is young and it was dominated by engineers until few years ago, before the internet explosive grow opened it to the rest of population.
2: Technological work requires a wide open mind and a lot of logic, your main tool is your mind, so people tends to be more opened to differences.

Kisses
Amanda

[PHXGiRL]

I'm a car saleswoman (probably uber rare?) being that it is all face to face interaction and a highly male influenced work environment. I don't think gender is a barrier no matter the career field as long and you strive for success. I love breaking down stereotypes. We women do what we know.

[Kevin Peña]

I'm a car saleswoman (probably uber rare?) being that it is all face to face interaction and a highly male influenced work environment.

Not to mention that you need to lie your pants off. 

[PHXGiRL]

Not to mention that you need to lie your pants off. 

We're not all liars. It's the non-liars that have success. Treat customers the way you want treated.

[MaidofOrleans]

Not to mention that you need to lie your pants off. 

Actually the best salesmen/women are the ones who can sell a product without lying about it. Nothing will come back to bite them. I have to do it every day as part of my job though I don't sell cars I sell memberships and other services.

[Kevin Peña]

We're not all liars. It's the non-liars that have success. Treat customers the way you want treated.

Well, for future reference...  = Me being facetious.

[GreenThumb]

I'm trying to get into the IT department at work. What I find draws me to it is the fact that I will have to deal with a lot less people on a daily basis while I'm transitioning, I find the work interesting and it pays A LOT more.

I have always worked in traditionally female careers. I did a lot of babysitting during my teens. All of my adult jobs have been in either social services or education. I was an instructional aide in an autism classroom for about seven years. I've worked at a preschool. Lately I've been the front desk / greeter person for a state agency. I answer a lot of phone calls and do a lot of clerical work. Usually I'm the only "guy" around.

[PHXGiRL]

Well, for future reference...  = Me being facetious.

I knew you were silly!

[Ms. OBrien CVT]

I entered veterinary medicine because my patients could care less as long as I care for them.  And my clients could care less, because they see how much I care for their "children".  And I get kisses from my patients that no computer can give.