Being in a masculine profession

[Zoe Louise Taylor]

Hi girls

Were any of you in a "masculine" profession before you started transitioning?

I work in the construction industry, and i know for a fact that when i do start transitioning im going to have to quit my job.

I was just wondering whether any of you were in the same boat, what you did,  and how things worked out for you?

Xx

[Northern Jane]

I don't know about masculine but certainly male-dominated. I started out fixing radios and televisions while in high school and stayed in that field when I transitioned in 1974. Within 5 years after transition, I was working in electronic engineering and spent the next 40 years in that field. Women in that field were exceedingly rare in 1974 and we accounted for about 10% when I retired last year.

[big kim]

I was a fork lift truck driver

[Alainaluvsu]

I was a telephony technician. Sometimes I had to crawl in attics and under houses. I got more and more useless physically as time went on. I ended up getting fired for leaving my truck unlocked and having my laptop stolen out of it. But the owner had it in for me for months before that because he was a bible beating baptist that literally thought "gays are an abomination".

[Zoe Louise Taylor]

I don't know about masculine but certainly male-dominated. I started out fixing radios and televisions while in high school and stayed in that field when I transitioned in 1974. Within 5 years after transition, I was working in electronic engineering and spent the next 40 years in that field. Women in that field were exceedingly rare in 1974 and we accounted for about 10% when I retired last year.

Wow

Coming out at work is such a daugnting thought!!
I dont know whether i could do it where i work now, they wouldn't accept me at all! :/

Its just a scary prospect having to start again and try and get a new job, especially whilst transitioning!!!!
x

[generous4]

Coming out at work is such a daugnting thought!!

For me it was super nervous, never thought I would EVER do so.  But then, the way it happened, not the way I planned it, but it worked out OK.  My boss turned out to be great, and now I am out 100%.  What a relief.

I hope it goes OK for you, Zoe.

[Renee]

I was a stevedore for a bulk material importer/exporter for the first two years of hrt. But the company closed down just before I went fulltime. Most people that worked there did figure it out though, but did not give me any issues over it. Afterwards, I did tell my former supervisor and office manager and they were cool with it and told they figured that was what was going on, but so long as I did my job well, they didn't care.  The main thing that stood out was how some of the crew on some of the ships were, but still nothing really negative, they just made sure to make a note by my sign-ins on their boarding book after they saw my male id, lol.

[Northern Jane]

Coming out at work is such a daugnting thought!!
I dont know whether i could do it where i work now, they wouldn't accept me at all!

I didn't transition at work. I moved from my home town to a city hours away and started over. It was 1974 and stealth was the goal.

It did come out at my  first job after but my employer was great. They held a meeting of all employees (except me!) and told the others that if they had any problem with me and didn't stop the gossip, they could look for another job! (I only found out about it much later.)

[Jamie D]

Hi girls

Were any of you in a "masculine" profession before you started transitioning?

I work in the construction industry, and i know for a fact that when i do start transitioning im going to have to quit my job.

I was just wondering whether any of you were in the same boat, what you did,  and how things worked out for you?

Xx

It should never have to be like that.  If you can do the job, then you should not be forced to quit.

[generous4]

It did come out at my  first job after but my employer was great. They held a meeting of all employees (except me!) and told the others that if they had any problem with me and didn't stop the gossip, they could look for another job! (I only found out about it much later.)

There was a meeting at my workplace.  My partner works there, too, in a different section, and she was at the meeting.  But my partner, she is more of a busybody than I am, she told me that most of the women there already knew. 

That stress level, before going public, wow.  Hypertension City.  Now, however, it is very relaxed. 

[Jen-Jen]

I work in Law Enforcement, I'm a cop, a SHERIFF CORRECTIONS DEPUTY  My current duties are Jail Guard, Court Bailiff and Prisoner Transport. I am currently out fulltime as of May 1st, 2013!  Yay!!!!  I transitioned on the job and have been on the force for 8 years this month! I am the first and only trans person my department and entire county have ever had.  I am currently extremely happy to be out and to be free to be myself! I love my job and theres nothing else I would rather be doing.

I expected things to go alot worse than they are going, I expected pitch forks and torches and have been getting nothing but sunshine and butterflies from both staff and inmates.  Don't give up on your job until after you come out, you never know it might turn out better than expected.

[Joanna Dark]

Hi girls

Were any of you in a "masculine" profession before you started transitioning?

I work in the construction industry, and i know for a fact that when i do start transitioning im going to have to quit my job.

I was just wondering whether any of you were in the same boat, what you did,  and how things worked out for you?

Xx

I imagine that would be tough given the stereotypical nature of construction workers. It shouldn't be the case but I think sometimes a fresh start is really good for a person. Think of the positive side: you are not only pursuing a dream but also get to try on a whole new career. And that's exciting even if a bit unnerving as well. I am freelance writer and before that a magazine editor for a women's magazine for seven years so I can't be much help other then commiseration. I'm pretty stereotypical myself, but then again, who isn't?

[Anna_81]

I'm a self employed electrician, and am still doing it.
I don't know how long it will last though, especially now that I have started HRT, but for the mean time it's okay and pays the bills, so can't complain!!

I'm hoping to get into real estate in the near future, which should be fun.

[PHXGiRL]

Current job is auto sales has been for seven years and counting. Prior to transition I two very masculine jobs for three years I did Asphalt repair and paving. I also worked on the railroad for Burlington Santa Fe replacing railroad ties for two winters. Jobs before those two were telemarketing sales jobs.

[LadyTeresa]

I'm a member of the Royal Canadian Air Force and in a trade that is mostly male.  Thankfully the Canadian military has a zero tolerance policy for harrassment so my transition was relatively easy.  Oh, there were some who wouldn't say hi to me in the hallway but most were accepting and some were supportive.  I'm still in the military and still doing my job so I have no complaints on that score.  In Aug '13 I'll have 35 years completed.  Yay!!!

[A]

From what I've seen (which may be less relevant than what you have seen), women in the construction industry are more admired than disrespected. If it can encourage you.

[Sammy]

My work involves dealing a lot with various professionals from law enforcement agencies, penitentiary institutions and other governmental agencies, which You usually dont hear about that often (I hope You get the idea which agencies I mean). Mostly, they are either masculine male or very intelligent and capable women, both genders being keen, efficient and professional.  I am quite lucky since there are not many professionals in my area of expertise in our country and we are getting more and more workload with each year, yet I dunno if our counter-parts in agencies would accept my changes and be as open with me as they used to be . We meet from time to time and spotting changes is their profession. I can probably respecialise into other areas and leave dealing with them to my collegues. Or maybe I am just stereotyping and my inner transphobia is taking me over here.

[Zoe Louise Taylor]

It should never have to be like that.  If you can do the job, then you should not be forced to quit.

Yea true, i dont think my employer would mind so much, i think the people i work with would never accept me being transexual! which is a shame, as i actually consider them good mates! :/

I imagine that would be tough given the stereotypical nature of construction workers. It shouldn't be the case but I think sometimes a fresh start is really good for a person. Think of the positive side: you are not only pursuing a dream but also get to try on a whole new career. And that's exciting even if a bit unnerving as well. I am freelance writer and before that a magazine editor for a women's magazine for seven years so I can't be much help other then commiseration. I'm pretty stereotypical myself, but then again, who isn't?

This is so true, im sure aswell i have many trasferable skills from my current profession that i could apply to a more feminine and accepting industry!!!

[peky]

I work for a very, very, very large company with tentacles in many countries. The products or services we offer are technical so the company is dominated by engineers and scientist. I am a scientist, and currently serve as a "Scientific Advisor" to the CTO (Chief Technology Officer), and director of one of the labs. Women are a minority but the company encourages diversity. I transitioned in my job, and the company and most of my co-workers were very supportive.


I love my job!

[XchristineX]

I work in very very remote mines...I work in cleaning or kitchen..
There is no police.  Sometimes no way out due to weather conditions..
We have common shower areas. Iike 4 showers in the same room
Usually up to 200 guys less then maybe 15 girls....
No city for over 700 km any direction...sometimes phone goes down
..internet goes down....

I serve guys that are like heavy eqipment operators. 
Heavy duty Mechanics.
Diamond drillers..
Pretty pretty male dominated environment. 

So I don't do a masculine job. I am surrounded by real a types

All i can say is some of the camp residents are like make me
Meeoww!!!

Oh yea 14 days per month I am in this ...before it was 20 days in
And 10 out. 
I can't wait until I'm really pretty in camp lol