Susan's Place Transgender Resources

Okay so my job has kind of been um well showing just how much they still dont understand transgender. While at my job yesterday well like always I get asked to do all this lifting work. They wanted me to lift a heavy vacuum and move it. This would mean Id actually lift it in the air to move it to where they wanted.

Ya I weight 147 last time I checked and you want me to move this??? I never could move it up so I gave it to someone else to do. I told them you think this is hard, wait till Im down even more in weight like another 10 pounds or so. I was asked why Id do that. Im like oh the joys of being trans.

All this time Im thinking um ya all because im biologically male so ya Im expected to fit this role and be able to move lots of heavy things. It's just stupid! Im not your guy!

Just say sure you'll lift it but you need some help.  You wouldn't want to suffer an injury on the job and possibly become disabled.

How heavy was it?


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Quote from: Larisa on June 09, 2018, 08:20:38 AM
Okay so my job has kind of been um well showing just how much they still dont understand transgender. While at my job yesterday well like always I get asked to do all this lifting work. They wanted me to lift a heavy vacuum and move it. This would mean Id actually lift it in the air to move it to where they wanted.

Ya I weight 147 last time I checked and you want me to move this??? I never could move it up so I gave it to someone else to do. I told them you think this is hard, wait till Im down even more in weight like another 10 pounds or so. I was asked why Id do that. Im like oh the joys of being trans.

All this time Im thinking um ya all because im biologically male so ya Im expected to fit this role and be able to move lots of heavy things. It's just stupid! Im not your guy!

@Larissa
Dear  Larissa: 
Thank you for your posting.
My very first thought when reading what you had stated, is that if a person, no matter if you are a male or female, can lift it safely then go ahead and perform the work related task.
   
In this day and age of equality of the sexes I don't think it relates well to others by saying "Because I am a girl I can't lift heavy items"   Obviously there are both men and women that for whatever reasons, back problems, leg problems, etc...  can not maneuver and lift heavy objects.

I am thinking more along the lines of your male co-workers are shoving the fact that you are a trans-woman in your face and taunting you to lift items like your old male self.

If you can lift the items safely, then do it, if not, you should wisely get some assistance.... but I might suggest that you don't use the "I am a girl" statement.

Please keep us updated about this.
Hugs,
Danielle

You shouldn't use transgender as an excuse as that just reflects badly on all of us.  If your job requirement involves moving heavy things then you have two options.  You can get stronger so you can do the job you're being paid to do or you can find another job.


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I have been changing full sized water bottles for years. Why? Maybe my size might enter into it a little but the primary reason is because I was one of the few who was smart enough not to throw my back out with improper lifting. Watch yourself and if you run into something that's more than you should lift, ask for assistance.

Quote from: Larisa on June 09, 2018, 08:20:38 AM


All this time Im thinking um ya all because im biologically male so ya Im expected to fit this role and be able to move lots of heavy things. It's just stupid! Im not your guy!

From what you are describing it could easily seem that this is about you being trans....It would seem a reasonable conclusion to come too. Having said that, maybe it's just about them remembering "him" when they ask you  to do it.

If they have the same expectation of other women you work with then it most likely has nothing to do with being Trans. When I was nursing pre transition it was always expected that I would help with any heavy lifting that needed to be done due to my male physique ...if I declined my usefulness was bought into question.



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Is heavy lifting part of your job description? Even if it is, it is often encouraged for you to have help moving things that weigh too much for you to physically move it. Gender is not a viable excuse. My mother used to pick up and move the old console TVs (the ones in the big wooden furniture like boxes) until she started deteriorating due to age.
Never use transness or femininity as an excuse to get out of something you were hired to do. It will make you appear lazy.

I had a job that required heavy lifting when I first started transition, so I took a night course at a local community college, and I learned how to type; and then I found a job as a customer service representative.

I work for the railroad and in my job description it states that I have to be able to occasionally lift over 80 lbs. (among other requirements)

After returning to work from GRS (I was at home recovering for 8 weeks) my co-workers helped me in lifting heavy stuff. The first time I lifted a coupler knuckle (80+lbs) I immediately dropped it on the ground as I felt all my incisions and stitches and told my co-workers I need some more time. Later I lifted another one to see how it went and it was okay, I'm now back to normal lifting strength. Unfortunately I do not know the time it took, but it was after my last dr. visit... so 5 months or so.

The requirements are the same for cis male and cis female.

Common sense and help among co-workers/supervisor can go a long way. BTW, there is no light duty at my work, but common sense knowing one's limits after surgery, any kind of surgery, is only humane.