Work: Androgyne - Intergender vs Bigender

[Kendall]

In the post https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,7169.0.html I was wondering about the challenges of living a life interdressing and intergender, where male and female would blend together in an appropriate manner (individually).

Specifically I wondered about the influence of liberal type professions: musician, artist, mechanic, tattoo artist versus more conservative professions: accountant , doctor, politician, or lawyer.

1. What profession type do you do? and What type of androgyne are you? (refer to the "What is an Androgyne", for further details and a list of possible types.

2. How has your profession or your androgyny affected each other.

3. What challenges, benefits, freedoms, or rewards does your chosen profession include, concerning androgyny?

4. If you dont have a profession, are thinking of changing, havent decided, or are new to androgyny, what do you guess or think might be some of the answers above.

This is a little questionaire to promote possible further dialogue.

Ken/Kendra

[Louise]

I am a college professor in a field that until recently has been dominated by males.  When I began graduate studies in the 60's there were only two women graduate students in my department and over sixty men.  Today the proportion of men and women entering my field of study is nearly equal.

Parts of academia are today among the most accepting environments for anyone who is transgendered.  But this is certainly not universally true.  It is particularly not true at church related institutions.  And it was most definitely not true when I began my academic career.

Being an academic has freed me from many of the more vulgar stereotypical expectations associated with "being a real man".  Testosterone-fed aggression is just as common among faculty and administrators in a university as anywhere else, but the competition is verbal, not physical.  Although a facility for language is often identified as a feminine trait, it is a highly prized trait among academics.

[Shana A]

1. What profession type do you do? and What type of androgyne are you? (refer to the "What is an Androgyne", for further details and a list of possible types.

I'm a musician, composer, teacher...

I just looked at the new poll what type of androgyne, and wanted to answer more than one way. I guess the best answer is that I am simply me, my own unique gender.

2. How has your profession or your androgyny affected each other.

As a creative person, I have a place where I can express my deepest feelings in art. I believe that being a musician has saved my life many times. I don't know what I'd do without that outlet.

3. What challenges, benefits, freedoms, or rewards does your chosen profession include, concerning androgyny?

As an artist, I already live outside the box. When I first started identifying as trans in the early 1990s, I noticed that a certain amount of my expression tended to be chalked up to eccentricity, and that it was more or less accepted since I'm an artist. As I've mentioned elsewhere on the forum, I live in a rural area so I don't always feel the freedom to express my androgyny as fully as I'd like. But I try 

zythyra

[Kendall]

I added "I am my own gender" to the options of the poll then, if that works better, or I can put something else.

[Mia and Marq]

1. What profession type do you do? and What type of androgyne are you? (refer to the "What is an Androgyne", for further details and a list of possible types.

I have a support profession, specifically a help desk sort of thing at a university in their all night computer lab(check when I post usually). What type am I? Well I'm sort of the poster child for bi-gendered I think.

2. How has your profession or your androgyny affected each other.

The university community as Louise may agree is generally very open-minded about issues because of the general feel for trying to understand everything. We have extensive support networks on campus and what are called safe zones, essentially places where no one is judged or persecuted for who and what they are. As a result of this environment, I have atleast a little more breathing room in the way I express myself.

3. What challenges, benefits, freedoms, or rewards does your chosen profession include, concerning androgyny?

I can relate well to both males and females with technical problems and talk to them in a way that they can appreciate that makes them feel comfortable asking me questions about the computers.

-Us

[Ricki]

Marq and Mia
your're right

The university community as Louise may agree is generally very open-minded about issues because of the general feel for trying to understand everything. We have extensive support networks on campus and what are called safe zones, essentially places where no one is judged or persecuted for who and what they are. As a result of this environment, I have atleast a little more breathing room in the way I express myself.

I although ts, i work in a large university health system and that whole concept from the university is static in the health system hospitals.
Good to know!

[Simone]

Hiya from both Paul and Simone..

Well...i am a Police Officer...dont all run for cover!!...hehe...As you can imagine this carreer has some very challenging roles and my being Androgyne can be greatly tested.

I see a lot of ignorant hate and pain and descrimination. My femine side is tested and Simone often trys to reach out with compassion when most other males would use brute force and comtempt. I am not critisising the role of male Police Officers as there are a lot of caring merciful, loving male Officers who have the well being of their public at heart. But i do get...maybe critisised at times for being too nice!

I se it as a gift... ...x.

 

[Laurry]

1. What profession type do you do? and What type of androgyne are you? (refer to the "What is an Androgyne", for further details and a list of possible types.

I have one of the Corporate America type jobs.  I am a Mainframe Storage Administrator.  Basically, I manage all storage (tape and disk) on large corporate computers.  I am truly blessed as I love what I do for a living.  As with any job, there are times I can't stand the hours and the politics, but when I actually do my work (as opposed to admin b.s. and meetings) I often times get completely lost in what I am doing and people have actually had to tap me on my shoulder to get my attention, especially when I am writing code.  (OK, I'm a Geek, so what?  Like you didn't already know that?)

2. How has your profession or your androgyny affected each other.

In the land of computers, there is no gender.  There is only logic and instructions.  The great thing about this is that it allows unlimited capabilities.  Creativity is allowed to flow as new ways to solve things they say couldn't be done are explored.  This has been my outlet for years.  I love to do stuff most folks think is too hard or can't be done.  Knowing the mindset, it is easy to see the appeal to hackers.

Anyway, as you may expect, Corporate America is not really friendly to those who are "unusual".  This is not limited to gender expressions, but covers anything that could be considered disruptive.  There are no reasons required in the era of layoffs...just your bad luck.  Corporately, they would embrace and welcome any gender diversity, but realistically, people who cause problems or distractions tend to find themselves on the next layoff list.  This, of course, causes me to limit the amount of Androgynous expression I display in the workplace.

3. What challenges, benefits, freedoms, or rewards does your chosen profession include, concerning androgyny?

I think, between the other two answers, I have probably answered this one too.  Since I can't think of anything to add, I'll just babble on here for a minute so that my answer looks long and intelligent in case someone is just browsing through the post trying to decide if they should read it or not.  There, I think that will work.

4. If you dont have a profession, are thinking of changing, havent decided, or are new to androgyny, what do you guess or think might be some of the answers above.

I have a profession...I am thinking of getting a life.  You guys have any ideas for a good one?


Great questions Ken/Kendra. 

........Laurie

[Jillieann Rose]

Got to think about this one. Will reply shortly.

Jillieann/JR

[Kendall]

1. What profession type do you do? and What type of androgyne are you? (refer to the "What is an Androgyne", for further details and a list of possible types.

I am a Book Seller in a large super bookstore. Specifically I am in charge of our magazine section, where we have around 3,000 different titles put into categories, of periodicals. I am a Intergender (mixed) Androgyne in that I always have a gender mix constantly every day throughout the whole day. I also try to incorporate some interdressing  by trying to integrate some of both gender items, styles, appearance. I also try interliving in that I try to incorporate this everyday, both in public and private.

2. How has your profession or your androgyny affected each other.

I must say I believe I sorta even consciously even picked a career that fit more comfortably my gender. The store I work in has a area coordinator that has a history of being fair, accepting, and treating people fair, hiring people of both genders, and orientations (though I may be her first transgender person for all I know). In our customer base, though we have some intolerant ones, we have a good amount of diverse "out" that visit us.

I think my profession has allowed me to feel "safer" about working with, being, and trying things with coworkers and customers. I still have occasional days where I worry about what others might think. So far I havent had any major problems, though I dont think I am immune to such possibilities. I think my greatests fears still are mostly mental "what ifs".

3. What challenges, benefits, freedoms, or rewards does your chosen profession include, concerning androgyny?

The challenges that I have working in a book store are mostly regional concerns. Although from Seattle, a very accepting area, I am now living in the Deep South, a much less accepting area. We have a large percentage of Religous Right come into my store who call and complain to our main office about things that I had never thought off : too much bikini type magazines in the men's section, that we have too much gay/lesbian books and that they were located next to the Politics books, that we didnt have the books they wanted written by republicans and that we were allegedly trying to sensor them out when in reality the demand made us sell out of them, getting us to say Merry Christmas when Walmart would not.

I know that by having a large number of clients such as these, may lead to trouble at some point.

We have one area coordinator (formerly store GM) that is very accepting and in fact hires a lot of diverse employees. This is one benefit.

Freedom wise, I can work a little with the dress code, like it says we can wear earrings.

Another reward is that our store attracts some good people that are transgender as well as other groups such as gay/lesbian. Being a University town, increases the number of groups.

Ken/Kendra

[Jillieann Rose]

Here goes.

1. What profession type do you do? and What type of androgyne are you? (refer to the "What is an Androgyne", for further details and a list of possible types.

I am a Computer Technician and Online Retail Sales (New and Old Items). Androgyne bigender (both ends).


2. How has your profession or your androgyny affected each other.

As P.C. Technician, computer systems don't care what gender you are. But after saying that let me say that I have more compassion and patients with the people that use them as female. The male is the logical thinker who usually can solve the computer problem.

As for Online Sales it's great. I use an androgynist (I think that is a word) form of my name so that people are comfortable with me what ever their gender. I believe that they usually think of me as a female thou. Many women email me and ask question about clothing that they would never ask a male. And I have noticed men correspond very respectfully/gently with me and I like it that way.
Also If I get a garment without a size tag or shoe without gender identity I can often put them on and tell what size they are because of having bought clothing for both sides of me.
Jillieann (I) love women's cloths and can share my enthusiasm in the write-ups.  JR gets excited about electrical things so he ....... get the idea.
 
3. What challenges, benefits, freedoms, or rewards does your chosen profession include, concerning androgyny?

At the place where I work people see me as a male so.... I love people and many of them relate better to one of the two genders in me. Jillieann is a little shy / leery about exposing herself too much. But most people do know me Jilieann as well as JR; they just don't know that they do.
Rewards? Only personal rewards - I can just be myself when I'm working online.

4. If you dont have a profession, are thinking of changing, havent decided, or are new to androgyny, what do you guess or think might be some of the answers above.

I'm happy where I am professionally. Well could use a salary increase. Want to tall to my boss?


Jillieann/JR

[Ricki]

Ricki has questions now!
okay Paul/simone.. there i think is another law enfocement professional among us who said so or stated so in another post (could be more not everyone tells), most wonderful.. She said she had worn girly things under her unifrom, okay confession time ha-hummmmmm well??
________________Do ya? hehe.....And if so had you ever thought of the situation of maybe being compromised say having something splattered on your uniform where you had to remove it or being hurt (not bad though do not waish that) or roughed up some where you'd be taken to hospital and have to "gulp" undress some?
My Sweetie Laurieo..........  My ever duanting question for you is this?
hehe.....What's your specialty hardware ---- or --- software!
I could simply not resist! hehe.. So we are all dying to know now!
kisses!
rememebr I'm ts but i love trying to follow after the posts I'm an information hound i guess plus you guys are very interesting!
Last thought maybe all of us could get together and open a big company of our own where we only hire special people like us... Oh the law suits would be flying then, non-special people would undoubtably want in I'll bet!
Ricki

[Mia and Marq]

If they want in on the company, I don't see a problem as long as they don't act inappropriately. Its hard to really put that requirement in the employee handbook but I think something like :
Acceptance is a must here. If you can't accept others for who they are, this job isn't for you.

That would be quite a company though. I was telling my wife last night that from the responses, you can't really corolate a specific career that someone who is transgendered might work under. Obviously certain jobs might at a glance seem more open to acceptance, it doesn't dictate what people want to do as careers.

-Us

[Ricki]

Marq and Mia..
i like that very good!
I must abandon this site now for my spooky movie rental to watch and junk food to eat
good night
ricki

[Vanessa V.]

Hey alls! Lets see...

Well, as I'm still young enough to only have a temp job, I guess I'll just answer number four!

4. If you don't have a profession, are thinking of changing, haven't decided, or are new to androgyny, what do you guess or think might be some of the answers above.

I suspect I'll probably wind up with some staid professional job. Right now I'm just a student, but I'm studying to be a lawyer, politician, or teacher, all of which aren't very inviting to androgynous expression. And while this sorta bums me out, I guess my ambition carries the day with it. I'm not too amazingly unhappy suppressing my feminine self for the payoffs. It balances out in my life calculus. The nice part I suppose of this is that my bi-genderedness (I feel) gives me the stamina to get this done. I can sorta cordon off one side of myself for the world to see, and the other side can be expressed in the privacy of my own home. And no one would know the wiser I would hypothesize!

I can definitely imagine though how more artistic fields would allow for a nicer range of self-expression in that aspect...

-Nessa

[Laurry]

My Sweetie Laurieo..........  My ever duanting question for you is this?
hehe.....What's your specialty hardware ---- or --- software!
I could simply not resist! hehe.. So we are all dying to know now!

Baby, at my age, its firmware...but to answer your question:

I couldn't get along without my hardware, what gal can?
and as for software...you got me, honey, what more do you need?



Mark/Mia, fantastic idea...that would be a fantastic place to work.

......Laurie

[Kendall]

Hopefully this post will give at least a little insight or help to Androgynes in search of careers or even temporary work. And maybe will lead to future discusions concerning other topics.

[Refugee]

In terms of my job, being a Paramedic, we're all the same shade of blue.  I can't say that there are any really "girly" girls that stay in EMS anyways, so I suppose that's realatively androgenous, or at least non-gendered.

In the hospital the nursing staff all wear the same color scubs regardless of whether they're male or female, so I guess its true there too.