How did coworkers treat you when you first began to dress

[westin21]

As you gradually moved from unseen undergarments to women's pants, sweaters, shoes etc.. did people comment, give you funny looks, appear jealous? How did this help your transitioning. Did you stop all together, press further. were the men or women worse?

I would be interested to know

[KimSails]

I didn't transition gradually.  I told my co-workers on a Thursday that I would be presenting Female on Monday.  And I did.  I got a lot of positive, supportive comments about the transition.  I didn't get many comments specifically about my appearance, but the few I got were positive.

Guys were more likely to comment on my transition with something like "you have a lot of guts!"  Women were more likely to say I was 'brave".

Kim

[Katiepie]

When I changed my male clothes out for female clothes in the work area. No not skirts and blouses, but to female khakis and  female button up... This is where the company corporate loopholes came into play. Maybe I should have gone the skirt route..
But anyways, for my manager to keep on "reminding"/telling me to tuck in the button up, though it just will not stay tucked, and me reminding her who she was talking to... Ended up being the straw that broke the camels back. I put in my two weeks notice, due to a huge panic attack.

Kate <3

[westin21]

Sorry to hear about the job Kate. I am feeling a bit self conscious but I will ignore the looks and persevere.

Thanks Kate and Kim for responding

[Eva Marie]

I ended the week in guy mode, spent the weekend having my nails and hair done and buying clothes, went to court on Monday and changed my name and gender, and went back to work the following Wednesday.

My company had a company-wide meeting on Monday where it was announced what was going on with me. A gender therapist was brought it to explain everything. My boss made it clear that people were to treat me with respect and any untoward behavior would not be tolerated.

The main reaction that I got from my coworkers was nervousness and excessive politeness - they didn't quite know how to act around me and were deathly afraid of misgendering me or otherwise saying something inappropriate. There was also curiosity about me and lots of people came by to talk or gawk at me 

Since then I am just another female in the office and I am old news. Life goes on.

[Dena]

Not a problem for me. I lost the job I held as a male due to a layoff and found my next job as a female. Only a few people in my after jobs ever talked to me about my past and they were mostly curious. Most of the time I work skirts in office because that tended to be the standard of the time.

[Girl Beyond Doubt]

Human resources and top level management would have killed me had I not filled them in before.
Companies don't like unplanned distractions and disruptions.
My coming out was a well planned two stage event, with the first one being a private meeting with a handful of people, followed by me going full time the next day.
No gradual dressing. Yesterday him, today her.

[westin21]

Thanks to everyone fro sharing

[barbie]

As you gradually moved from unseen undergarments to women's pants, sweaters, shoes etc.. did people comment, give you funny looks, appear jealous? How did this help your transitioning. Did you stop all together, press further. were the men or women worse?

I would be interested to know

Yes. I have gradually changed to women's, but sometimes a specific item can cause a fuss in workplace.

In my case, the first one was when I wore knee-high skirt at work place about 11 years ago. Wearing skirt symbolizes what?

The second happened a few month ago when I posted photos of wearing bikini at beach in Facebook. The impact was indeed massive, both positively and negatively. Nationwide calls reached me, not directly, but via my close friends who live nearby me. Even my university president called the dean, who in turn called a professor who is very close to me.

barbie~~

[Sspar]

For me.. it is easy and hard..
I am a Industrial technician, I have to crawl in and around big dirty equipment..
wearing skirts and heels are not a option..
I now wear lots of pink
pink hat, shoelaces, glasses, ,earrings, blouses

next weekend I am getting permanent tattoo makeup done ( too much dirt for regular makeup )..
anything I can do to look more feminine...

I work in a male dominant department.. but we have good lgbt protections..
my coworkers are all the place on the issue..
some were very supportive ( which surprised me.. usually they have gay children no one knows about )
some just ignore me..
most were awkward for abit at first.. but act no different now..

[RobynD]

I've been the GM/Owner of my business about five years. Prior to that i was always a contractor/freelancer so i tended to care a bit less about at those places because i was always moving on at some point.

Being the boss helps of course. My transition in dress was somewhat gradual but they always had seen me in women's jeans for instance. The real changes came when i started to wear more heels and boots, grow out my hair and put on makeup. In our office complex there have been a few dirty looks as there are a couple obvious bigoted people, but in general everyone else has been great. All employees i am sure discussed it among themselves, but never had a bad moment, only a few questions.

[Tessa James]

Prior to retiring I made a progressive change toward androgyny starting with very long hair, nails, jewelry, rainbow colors etc.  No one ever said a word to me about it.  I hung out with other queer people and hugged with them often. 

I was told other people just "figured" I was gay.  Ha ha, only half right.  While I was shaking in my boots about being confronted most people seemed to not notice or care. 

Some days we really are no BFD