What exactly is "full-time" ?

[Wolf Man]

This is something I hear a lot around here. Full-time, part-time, hell it sounds like a job! I know at least in part what qualifies as each, but what specifically makes you "full-time"?

[Valerie Elizabeth]

According to the standards of care

1. To maintain full or part-time employment;
2. To function as a student;
3. To function in community-based volunteer activity;
4. To undertake some combination of items 1-3;
5. To acquire a (legal) gender-identity-appropriate first name;
6. To provide documentation that persons other than the therapist know that the patient
functions in the desired gender role.

Gender specific clothing too, but I don't think that's specifically mentioned.

Doing this all the time would be full time, otherwise it's part time.

Personally, I think you can be full or part time without an official name change because that can take some time.  I also think the term 'combination' isn't quite the right word.  I mean, if you are working full time at a job, do you really have time to function as a student or in a volunteer activity?

I think that sums it up.

[tekla]

I mean, if you are working full time at a job, do you really have time to function as a student or in a volunteer activity?

Of course you do.  At least most of the people I know did all that stuff in combination.  Full time students, with part time jobs, part time students with full time jobs.  Most of the people in Grad school have jobs, many of them really good jobs.  And they still found time to be club presidents, or work with the lecture committee, or any number of organizations.  Employers look for that stuff because it proves superior time-management skills,

[Valerie Elizabeth]

I guess I didn't think about clubs or other things along those lines.

Me personally, I work part time, go to school full time, and volunteer on an ambulance so I guess I'm doing all three.  I was thinking more along the lines of my mother.  She works a full time job and is wiped out at the end of the day.  She barely has time to do things she likes to do, let alone volunteer.

I guess that it all depends on what your job entails.  How much work outside of class your major requires.  I know at my school, most people hardly have enough time do get their actual work done (no, I do not go to a party school so that's not the reason).  I got lucky with my job where I can do my job and homework at the same time.


Either way though, I don't think it should be really necessary to 1-3 in some combo.

[tekla]

I think its there to cover the bases.  If you are employed as your target gender in a full-time job I think most docs call that done.

[Tammy Hope]

According to the standards of care

1. To maintain full or part-time employment;
2. To function as a student;
3. To function in community-based volunteer activity;
4. To undertake some combination of items 1-3;
5. To acquire a (legal) gender-identity-appropriate first name;
6. To provide documentation that persons other than the therapist know that the patient
functions in the desired gender role.

Gender specific clothing too, but I don't think that's specifically mentioned.

Doing this all the time would be full time, otherwise it's part time.

Personally, I think you can be full or part time without an official name change because that can take some time.  I also think the term 'combination' isn't quite the right word.  I mean, if you are working full time at a job, do you really have time to function as a student or in a volunteer activity?

I think that sums it up.

RE 1-4

I think the idea is that any of those activities are interchangeable for one requirement - that is that you are accepted as and function in society as your "chosen" gender.

Honestly, it probably should read something like

1. To maintain and function in at least one of the following roles:

a. Regular full or part time employment;
b. Regular full or part time student;
c. Regular participation in community based volunteer activities;

Or some combination thereof.

2....etc

***
RE #5

I'm down with that being a requirement for approval for surgery but I'd be troubled if your "one year RLE" doesn't start until a LEGAL name change is effective. On a day to day basis, if you interact with folks using your gender appropriate name, there are not that many situations where the legal name matters.

for instance, my dentist keeps my medical records with my legal name but everyone there calls me and deals with me as Laura.

***

to address the OP, i consider myself full time because I present as female every time I step outside my home (do at home too except for the breast pads, but that's not as relevant when discussing interaction with the world).

there is no longer any situation where I accept any requirement to "man up" in order to participate in. I do everything I did before (with the exception of hopefully temporary unemployment) with a 100% female presentation.

With all due respect to the SOC, the circumstantial fact that I am neither employed or a student has no impact on whether I am interacting full time as female.

Likewise, the fact my DL has a male name on it doesn't affect my day to day interactions or my ability to conduct myself as a female.

So I would argue that the SOC is a bit arbitrary on some points.

[The None Blonde]

In my book... full time is a quite... liquid concept. It means roughly to live, ALL the time, in your gender role of erm.... (looks for the word that wont get her lynched) preference by mental selection?... anyway. It means to be that role... that gender... your gender, completely. It doesn't in my book mean clothes... If people percieve a female in jeans and a sweatshirt... then you're full time if they see you as female all the time. Its just... life as its meant to be as it were in my book.

[noeleena]

Hi...   
   Living is full time.  regardless of being male or female . i m a woman with a male background .
  work   . retired.  age 62.
    member of  womens groups
  As to wether i was working or not had no bearing on how or who i am . or if as a male needing to live as a woman .
How i dressed all so . thats up to me not for some G p or a psych or who ever to tell me what i can & cant do .
   As it was i met them in male the first times
thing is if you dont know inside . then does any one else  . no .  so you must tell them . as i did . if you are up front with people then it ll work .
The point is i have all ways been a andro . & because i told them i will be living as my self a woman there was no problems . they accepted what i said . it was not a over night detail it took a long while to getwhere i am now . like a baby  you have to grow . & i have .
        at age 50 i knew what i was going to do . total no doughts .   6. years later . h r t . 2 . 1 / 2 later s r s  & b a . remember . what work s for one may not work for another .

   ...noeleena...

[Teknoir]

The SOC provide a pretty good outline to what constitutes full time.

Like others here, I interpret 1 - 4 as "One or more of the following".

5 sort of covers 6. You have 5, then it's pretty easy to prove 6.

I consider myself full time because I forfill all the critera of the SOC. I study full time (where I am only known as male). I have a legally changed gender approprite name. I have interviewed for jobs in a male presentation and have one starting later this year.

I'm not sure about what constitutes documentation - but all my paperwork (legal and otherwise) is in my legal (male) name. My carry ID (ie, drivers licence) has no gender marker (as is the custom here).

One of the additional things going 'full time" ment for me, was that I did not crossdress (and attempt to pass as my birth sex) for any reason, regardless of the situation or people involved. It's a line I felt I had to draw, in order to give "full time" some meaning (to me). The "restriction" has been liberating! 

[Natasha]

full time: when you completely stop living as the gender you say you aren't & start living 24/7/365 as the gender you say you are.

[Renate]

I'll add that in this economy, not being employed and not being a student is not a crime.
The main intent of the SOC work/study/volunteer clause is to say that you can't lock yourself in your bedroom, play video games and say that you are "full-time".
You could be retired and only go to the supermarket, the library and the senior center and still be full-time.

Full-time means presenting your goal gender all the time to everybody.

[FairyGirl]

As Teknoir mentioned, all my papers, bank accounts, SS card, DL, passport, etc. are in my legal, female name. I live, interact with friends, family, and strangers, travel nationally and internationally, work my job, deal with clients, as well as breathe, eat, drink, sleep, and dream as the woman I am, 24/7. Call it "full time" or whatever; I just think of it as life now and I can't realistically imagine life any other way. It was enough to get me my 2 letters for SRS in any case, so at least it's good to know my womanhood is officially sanctioned by the WPATH lol

[Dana Lane]

So does full time include having to use the appropriate bathroom for your target gender? I am actually getting close to going 'full time' and am a bit fuzzy on the bare minimum. I am preparing to start my paperwork for a legal name change and already wear female clothing and light makeup to work (jeans, turtlenecks, jewelry, ladies mule shoes, etc) but I am not 'presenting' as entirely female. More androgynous. But not all females wear makeup and girly things so is me simply stating my name is legally Dana and I am a female enough?

[Janet_Girl]

Full time ... Hummm.  I would say that if someone were to come to your door, late at night, they would realize that they just woke ( your target gender ) up.

Also the work/school thing isn't ringing true in this economy.  I am unemployed, but my UI is in my name, listed as female.  The SSA agrees that I am female, as does my therapist and my old doctor.

If you do not revert to your birth gender, because it is easier given the circumstances.  Your name is target gender appropriate.  And most, if not all the people you are in contact with know you as your target gender.


JMHO,
Janet

[FairyGirl]

So does full time include having to use the appropriate bathroom for your target gender?

well according to the very good definitions given by Renate and Natasha,

Full-time means presenting your goal gender all the time to everybody

full time: when you completely stop living as the gender you say you aren't & start living 24/7/365 as the gender you say you are.

I would think that includes using your gender appropriate restroom. The very act of walking into a public men's room means you are still presenting yourself as male to the public. "Full time" means just that, all target gender, all the time.

[Dana Lane]

well according to the very good definitions given by Renate and Natasha,

I would think that includes using your gender appropriate restroom. The very act of walking into a public men's room means you are still presenting yourself as male to the public. "Full time" means just that, all target gender, all the time.

Thanks, that makes sense!

[CharleneT]

Renate and Natasha's are great !  One comment you might add, "no cheating".  A friend of mine's therapist told her that when she was asking this same question.  Really and truly, you do not step back and use your male side at any time. 

[The None Blonde]

What is cheating here exactly?

Would sweatpants and a hoodie by 'cheating' by these standards?

[FairyGirl]

I think realistically we are held to somewhat stricter standards, though clothing is a bit more flexible. Sure lots of women wear jeans, t-shirts, etc. Most of them don't do so in order to present to the public as male. I wear jeans and t-shirts occasionally and I am never mistaken for a man anymore, but then again I'm not trying to be. I never go into men's restrooms, whether I'm wearing jeans or not.

Being your target gender becomes your real life, all the time, with all the joys and sorrows that come with it. I think that is sort of the point of the Real Life Test requirement, to see if you can be comfortable and adjust to living as the gender you claim to be, all out, 100% of the time, in all situations.

[Autumn]

What is cheating here exactly?

Would sweatpants and a hoodie by 'cheating' by these standards?

Only really bad trannies put on hoop earrings and makeup to go jogging.

I have some customers who treat me differently because I'm viewed as a woman. I know realistically I could just go "Sir, I'm a man - soandso blah blah blah" as a retort. But that's cheating. And

a) They probably wouldn't believe me
b) That'd be an un-fun confrontation
c) They'd probably still not respect or listen to me :V

So I don't and if I have a real misogynistic ->-bleeped-<- in the future, I'll either boob-up (sacking up is for boys) and handle him or shut up and have someone else handle him.

Cheating being like, getting into ladies' night because you're FTM and your DL still says F on it, when you're trying to pass as male.

I will admit that when I was at the renaissance festival 3 months ago, with ->-bleeped-<- and puke and urine all over the outhouses and the surrounding ground... I said screw it and peed on a tree. My girlfriends were peeing in cut off plastic bottles and such but I didn't bother to make one because it was like 2 am.