Quote from: VegasLakers on December 03, 2012, 07:24:55 AM
So I have come out to some friends and said I want to transition from male to female. The biggest obstacle I can think of is finding work. I am a blue collar person who doesn't have a whole lot of qualifications to point to in finding a job. Does a transition lessen your chance of finding work, in your experience? I think I can handle most of the things that comes along with transitioning, but finding work could be the most difficult.
Never have had anybody I know transition so this could be a totally stupid question to ask. If it is, I'm sorry. I have just come to grips with who I am and am looking into all of the stuff that comes along with transitioning.
Hi VegasLakers, no sincere question is a stupid question. You and all of your questions are welcome here!
Congratulations on coming to an understanding about yourself, and figuring out what you want to do to make your life better. That is the hard part for a lot of us. Not that transition is a cake walk, but preparation will make it as smooth as it can be.
What you will find in this country and this economy is that it is tough being a blue collar worker regardless of your gender inside or the gender you present on the outside. Education is really getting to be essential in most people's career prospects, and in most places you can make a great start in a publicly funded community college. Either in two years with a trade focus (CC's tend to try to focus on preparing you for jobs in demand in your area) or as a start to a four year degree. There are many good careers that even a few years dedicated to school will get you going in, and many more at the four year and beyond level.
Being a woman makes finding and keeping good paying jobs harder, regardless of if you are cis- or trans-. In most places in the US, women make on average between 55% (rural or red states) to 80% (a few urban educated places) of equally qualified men.
Being in transition, but not passable in your new gender presentation yet, can make finding a good job harder still; how hard depends a great deal on where you live.
And of course, endemic racism means that transgender women of color who do not pass fully and live in socially conservative places have by far the hardest time.
I think most trans* folks find one of two paths work best for them in managing transition and career. Which works best for you may depend on your age, and also how much you love and want to continue your current career. The two ways that work best are 1) Going to school full time to get your degree and career preparation - public schools are the best buy - and transitioning fully while you are in school; or 2) Working for an LGBT friendly employer or in an LGBT supportive union that already knows your worth and values your contribution, and coming out and transitioning on the job.
Some people live in hostile areas of the country, and have a much easier time of it if they move first.
I live in a state (Oregon) with legal protections for transgender employees, and work for a progressive employer. The employer valued my contributions and skills. When I came out and transitioned, I did it with the full support of my employer and my career has actually improved since I don't carry around the stress of dressing and acting in a way that never fit me.
