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

[GreenThumb]

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.

Thanks for taking care of our loved ones.

[Zumbagirl]

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.

Wow everything I have heard is that veterinary schools are very hard to get into and it's a complex field since it requires knowing about everything from hamsters to horses. I am always amazed at how my vet can calm down one of my dogs when he sees them. It a profession I know little about and admire greatly.

[Jenny_B_Good]

My opinion about this is really unpopular so please don't read it if you are really sensitive, but mainly it's because men are more interested in those fields and most TS women are interested in mostly male dominated things.

....hmmmm, I don't think it's that TS women are more interested in male things as alot of us went to 'male' work because we had something to 'prove'. I think that's why alot of the general public are shocked when a "male" transitions to female because there are a lot of police/military/truckers that went into that field as something to prove, but in the end couldn't take it..

As to the original question: why so many trans women are programmers/engineers/IT?  Alot of posters have already pointed out the social anxiety aspect which was particularly pleasing to me, but I think the 'nerd' aspect is the most attractive.

These jobs are quite "genderless" when compared to professions like florist, hairdresser, dancer or retail (which are quite female dominated). No, I'm not proposing that these jobs don't require skill as they do, but when interviewing for these jobs, 'gender', whether consciously acknowledged or not, does play a part in the selection process, yet professions that are so skill based and disregard things like 'lifestyle' are easier jobs to obtain for someone feeling ...genderless/confused. You don't pick that up in an interview situation. As long as you have the skill you are employed.
You can't say that for something like, say, hairdressing, where your appearance does play a huge part. You're expected to be fashionable and usually immaculately presented. You won't get the job, even if you were "Oprah's personal stylist" if you look like a slob. As you someone who walks into your building when you have server problems? They can dress how they like can't they? You don't doubt their ability.
I'm going to be honest and say I don't want just anyone touching my hair!!! I will judge that persons skill on how they present themselves. Not particular political correct, but hey.... I'm being honest.

You can f**k with my server, but don't touch the hair!!

Love and Respect

Jenny

[Jenny_B_Good]

....oh, and respect and love to EmSchuma for the pink Lux avatar.

Love the open source!!!

OXOXOXO

Jenny







SUDO:Typed on a linux mint box

[Anna++]

....oh, and respect and love to EmSchuma for the pink Lux avatar.

Love the open source!!!

OXOXOXO

Jenny







SUDO:Typed on a linux mint box

Thanks!  I'm a kernel hacker, maybe you're running code that I've written!

* Written on Archlinux

[Emily Aster]

Thanks!  I'm a kernel hacker, maybe you're running code that I've written!

Yikes. I've tried playing with the linux kernel code. It gave me nightmares.

[Anna++]

Yikes. I've tried playing with the linux kernel code. It gave me nightmares.

It's not that bad, but I stay out of the core kernel stuff.  I do filesystems work.

[Jenny_B_Good]

It's not that bad, but I stay out of the core kernel stuff.  I do filesystems work.

I actually believe that the bible has a spelling mistake:

Mathew 5:5
Blessed are the meek geek: for they shall inherit the earth.


Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, Michael Dell - These guys earn way too much money.
Internet, MP3 players, smartphones. Geeks are the new trend setters!

[Dahlia]

Many of the younger transitioners are caught with no work or schooling experience because they faced the adult world as out trans women and not men with a secret.

This is so, very, very true!

Besides that: you MUST have a MASCULINE personality/character to work and compete in a male dominated environment.

Forget about that if you're notably/openly feminine!

[~RoadToTrista~]

Because transwomen are naturally smarticle at math, Duh!

[PHXGiRL]

This is so, very, very true!

Besides that: you MUST have a MASCULINE personality/character to work and compete in a male dominated environment.

Disagree with that statement my work is very male dominated. I am the only female sales consultant out of 28 men. I kick their butts every month even before I began transition.

You CAN be trans and work in any career. You don't have to be ultra fem, computer programmer, hair dresser, gay, etc... to transition in the work place, have success, or compete.

[Dahlia]

out of 28 men. I kick their butts every month even before I began transition.

Sounds like  something like 'man enough to be a woman' 

[MaidofOrleans]

Disagree with that statement my work is very male dominated. I am the only female sales consultant out of 28 men. I kick their butts every month even before I began transition.

You CAN be trans and work in any career. You don't have to be ultra fem, computer programmer, hair dresser, gay, etc... to transition in the work place, have success, or compete.

Im going to hearken back to a point I made earlier with this.

Do not take it personally Serena it's not my intention to attack you. I'm glad you are doing well but I disagree with your opinion.

I notice a lot of trans women in male dominated fields with good pay because they transitioned after they had the schooling and experience provided by male privilege. These late transitioners are in a kind of sweet spot if they managed to keep their jobs. Many of the younger transitioners are caught with no work or schooling experience because they faced the adult world as out trans women and not men with a secret.

Do you really honestly think that you would have even gotten the job you are in let alone been succesful at it had you applied as an out trans woman and not a man?

I like your enthusiasm and positive attitude but lets be realistic here.

My own therapist constantly pressures me to get into a better and safer position at work before coming out because she has had many patients be denied promotions or just treated like crap simply for being trans.

[Brooke777]

Do you really honestly think that you would have even gotten the job you are in let alone been successful at it had you applied as an out trans woman and not a man?

I know this wasn't directed at me, but I would like to answer. I have always held a position in very male dominated areas. However, there have always been a few women there too. They got the job because they were smart and qualified. It made no difference that they were women. I am in line for a new, higher paying, better benefit job and I am an out and proud trans woman. They know I am trans and don't care. I feel it is entirely possible for cis and trans women to be successfull in this world, and it has nothing to do with formerly having male privilege.

[MaidofOrleans]

I know this wasn't directed at me, but I would like to answer. I have always held a position in very male dominated areas. However, there have always been a few women there too. They got the job because they were smart and qualified. It made no difference that they were women. I am in line for a new, higher paying, better benefit job and I am an out and proud trans woman. They know I am trans and don't care. I feel it is entirely possible for cis and trans women to be successfull in this world, and it has nothing to do with formerly having male privilege.

I never said it wasn't possible only high improbable and the current stage of trans affairs supports that point.

You are missing my point i'm not saying we aren't capable i'm, saying we are denied because of what we are capable or not. I know im being a negative Nancy and nobody likes those but positive doesn't exactly describe a majority of trans women' experiences in the work world.

[Alainaluvsu]

I think the trans women that blend in as female have an easier time in the work force, especially in male dominated fields. Employers are probably worried about how much of a distraction we will be as trans, and the less "passable" are probably considered more of a distraction and as a possible "negative" to a customer base.

[Zumbagirl]

I think the trans women that blend in as female have an easier time in the work force, especially in male dominated fields. Employers are probably worried about how much of a distraction we will be as trans, and the less "passable" are probably considered more of a distraction and as a possible "negative" to a customer base.

It does require a thick skin to put up with the sexism. Some times the guys are being a-holes even when they don't realize they are being a-holes. Luckily I got used to it. It wasn't easy being the only woman in the software group, but all in all we got along really well. They had a program at work where I could sign up and get a discount membership for Costco. One day I get a letter in the mail, and it says for the wife of "so and so", a name of a male coworker. They had me listed as his wife. I was seriously eating that up and constantly ribbing him about it. It ended up being a running joke in our office. It was fun bossing him around I will admit

[Aleah]

One thing I have noticed about IT field, at least in Australia, even though the vast majority are male (my uni classes were like 98% male) it still feels to me like it is very equal opportunity industry and I've come across very little sexism. In most IT companies I have been in it was always so task orientated that if you could do the job, nothing else mattered. And IT is full of weird people that would not fit the traditional mold in other types of work.

Most of the female workers have usually been designers or analysts or some kind of consultant and not actually doing any software engineering but there have been a few that have inspired me (and me, ofcourse but I am still yet to come out).

Gravitating to gender neutral, task based, socially devoid work is probably just something that came out subconsciously for most..

[Sabrina]

I never know this was so common. Funny thing is, I'm going to school for a Bachelor's in Software Development. I guess we can add another one to the list .

[Chris29]

I m doing an apprenticeship in IT too, but I don't know wether I m doing this for the rest of my life or if I ll just get bored out.
Going to school for some time of the year in this apprenticeship too, I knew about this stereotype and somehow thought it was confirmed. In my class we had one girl whom I strongly suspected of beeing trans(voice, face etc, but she dropped out) , one lesbian butch GG who looked and dressed like a boy(also dropped out) and one extremely feminine gay boy(looks like xxy to me, voice, no facial hair etc). When I think of it I really can't believe it.