What kind of jobs give you free gender expression?

[Vestyn]

Hi all,

I was just reading through some old posts about things people love about being non-binary and I saw a lot of commentary on appearances: the freedom to have long or short hair, wear skirts or swimming trunks, make-up and tuxes, jewelry, tattoos, etc. And it made me wonder whether these freedoms extended to every part of their lives. In particular, I'm thinking about jobs. Does anyone here have a job where you're allowed total freedom of gender expression (within the confines of whatever constitutes "professionalism?")?

So for me, I teach English as a foreign language abroad. I'm pretty sure that if I presented 3 years ago as I do now, I wouldn't have been hired. I'm FAAB and after a year I got a "butch" haircut. Caused a few twitters but commentary simmered down after awhile. After year 2 I got top surgery *but didn't say anything about it.* I've noticed questioning stares at my flat chest, but everyone's had the decorum so far to not say anything. It's been somewhat easy for me to be stealth, though, since I haven't changed my name or pronouns.

I don't want to teach English indefinitely, though. Eventually I'd like to return to the USA (and do...something...) in an environment where I can be myself. Any ideas?

[EchelonHunt]

Self-owned businesses? My friend has her own art & craft business where she spends most of her time constructing new ideas and products to sell and goes to local conventions regularly. She has the freedom to wear whatever clothes or hairstyle she likes without any big bosses around to tell her she has to dress a certain way.

[FTMax]

I think you'd be pleasantly surprised by how little some places care. When my current boss purchased the business I work for, I was presenting very androgynously. After he had been in the business for a few months, I cut my hair short, started binding regularly, swapped certain pieces of my wardrobe for things that were more masculine. He hasn't said a word because I still get more work done than any of the other people he employs. Since I'm going to be starting HRT in a few weeks, I'm planning to come out to him, and I still don't think he will care beyond "I just spent $20 on your business cards!"

Not sure when you're coming back stateside, but I also applied to the NYC Teaching Fellowship. I read a blog from an FTM that was in the process of transitioning when he got hired there, and they were adamant that they wanted him to work for them.

[Taka]

if they can hire a person with blue hair... presentation doesn't matter as much as confidence.