Well like the title says, and something that generally worries me about transitioning is my job. I work in a fairly stereotypical blue collar work place as a machinist and love my job. I just worry about being able to go to work without being scrutinized/judged/picked on or whatever.

I'm curious to know if other people have faced this and what had happened? Did you have to leave your job to escape it?

working in a warehouse with a bunch of "man's man" types, I wonder the same thing.  Just doesn't seem like it would be the most accepting environment.  No one at my job knows anything, hell they don't know much about me, period. :p  Not something I am ready to find out. 

Give it a try.  In the blue collar jobs I've worked (including the one I currently work), the guys are friendly, more liberal on the inside than they like to admit, and they - we - are a tight-knit group.  I see many of them as my friends rather than just co-workers.  It might take some more explaining and they might make a few more off-color jokes, but it would be without malice.

Contrasting this to some of the white collar work I've done in the past, where the atmosphere was all about making money and focusing on work, I would have a far harder time transitioning from behind a desk and a stack of paperwork than I would out getting my hands dirty with the guys.

The blue collar guys seemed far easier to get along with.  If you could do the job well, you were cool with them.  But white collar workers sometimes seemed to be far pettier when it came to their co-workers.  They would worry about office politics, who to be seen with and who not to be seen with, water-cooler gossip etc.  The blue collar guys I work with would be shocked and confused for about ten minutes, then they'd just accept me for who I am and move on.

Your mileage may vary.

I don't believe that blue collar/white collar is the core factor, here.

Your coworkers' treatment of ciswomen will probably give you a better gauge (pun intended). If it's a sexist/misogynist environment/culture, you're unlikely to be accepted without a struggle. If women are treated with appropriate respect and included as equals, then you'll things are more likely to be positive. Attitudes and GLBT visibility in your larger community are also likely to be factors.

Another benefit of a blue-collar as opposed to a white-collar environment is there will probably be less of a break in your attire when you transition. Unlike white-collar environments where it's usually about looking professional and dress codes tend to be more gender-segregated, in blue-collar environments the dress code is typically more dictated by the workplace environment and safety (i.e. less of a gender difference).

Quote from: Gwynne on December 31, 2013, 08:40:01 AM
Your coworkers' treatment of ciswomen will probably give you a better gauge (pun intended). If it's a sexist/misogynist environment/culture, you're unlikely to be accepted without a struggle. If women are treated with appropriate respect and included as equals, then you'll things are more likely to be positive.

Yes, totally agree. Another factor would be how you currently fit in with the men and women in your workplace.

I tend to fit in well enough, but most of the people I work with are the "old crusties" of the trade, and might not be so inclined to be understanding.
Tbh, I'd probably wind up "guy mode" ing the work day, and just not even bring it up at work. Like tgchar said, I don't think attire would be a problem. But I'm not exactly feminine to start with. So if probably just let people notice on their own and let them make their own assessments.
I'm not one for flashiness and the spotlight anyway.