Hey girls,

Given the reality that surrounds our general employment situation and prospects, I decided to create this poll to assess the how being trans affects our professional future. I am very concerned about this, and I'd like to hear you thoughts and insight on this as well as your experience. I think this way we can help each other out better. Especially when it comes to our sisters who have survived discrimination when they were studying and/or working and are sucessful. 

Thank you for reading,

I want a job but my depression and nervousness/dysphoria makes it nearly impossible. I probably wouldn't have been fired from my last job if I wasn't trans as I wouldn't be social awkward/depressed and suffered from dysphoria.

 At my last job, my boss got herself fired for harassing me about being trans. I had that job for several more years and quit on good terms because i was moving.

I haven't worked for 10 months now because of problems with my bf and not knowing where to try and rebuild. I guess I'm fortunate that being trans isn't my biggest problem.

This article is interesting, though it only refers to USA reality.

http://williamsinstitute.law.ucla.edu/headlines/beyond-stereotypes-poverty-in-the-lgbt-community/

"According to the National Transgender Discrimination Survey, transgender people are four times as likely to have a household income under $10,000 and twice as likely to be unemployed as the typical person in the U.S. Ninety percent of those surveyed reported experiencing harassment, mistreatment, or discrimination on the job. Almost one in five reported being homeless at some point in their lives.

While these are among the most economically vulnerable within the LGBT community , they, of course, are not discrete groups. Those who lie at the intersections face even greater economic challenges. For example African-American lesbians have the highest rates of poverty among same-sex couples, and the National Transgender Discrimination Survey found that transgender people of color had an unemployment rate of four times the national average.

Understanding the diversity within the LGBT community is both the key to breaking down the myth of affluence and to beginning to understand where and how to combat LGBT poverty. It also points to a network of progressive collations, among women, people of color, the young and the old, parents, and LGBT people, who must all work together to fight poverty. Work focused on just one, or even a few, of these groups will not produce a solution that will work for any single group or that will address poverty as a whole."

Does this ring true for most??

I had been at my current job for 15 years before I transitioned... I was most fortunate to be working for a very accepting and supportive community organisation. How I would go looking for another job were that a reality I couldn't say. I hope to not be going anywhere until at least after my GRS which is still at least 18 months away.

S E L F - Employed!

Medical industry. Go figure.

Quote from: Evelyn K on August 26, 2014, 06:34:47 AM
S E L F - Employed!

Medical industry. Go figure.

Whoooops! I didn't inculde that option, darn it. Sorry!

Been looking for a job since April, I had my hours reduced due to not doing a good job as a receptionist since it was my first job and had lack of training.

Self employed also. I figure if anyone's going to get fired its not going to be me.

I just got my first job after graduating with Honours 1st class at University less than four hours ago.

I will be working with kids as a 'Mental Health Social Worker' (MHSW). My role will be to assist school age kids facing discrimination, disadvantage and mental health concerns. Because of this I was informed at the interview that the workplace is a LGBTQ friendly organisation with strict rules with regards to bias, and discrimination towards practitioners and clients. I am excited to begin working there even if it is only 2 days a week right now.


Sorry I forgot to say I live in Australia and have not began HRT and will not be brining it up for several more months with HR.

Currently working for many years with my present employer, but not disclosed to my boss of my trans* status - yet.

I'm on disability

Quote from: Leila on August 26, 2014, 09:30:07 AM
Currently working for many years with my present employer, but not disclosed to my boss of my trans* status - yet.

Sorry but your post seems to imply you are pondering disclosure. But why would you do that? I don't see why you should disclose, since being trans doesn't affect your abilities and competency at what you do at all. I personally wouldn't.

Quote from: Auroramarianna on August 26, 2014, 09:39:01 AM
Sorry but your post seems to imply you are pondering disclosure. But why would you do that? I don't see why you should disclose, since being trans doesn't affect your abilities and competency at what you do at all. I personally wouldn't.

It's because I am presenting as male at work. :/

I just finished college and I'm looking for a job, but thus far my trans status hasn't come into play with the whole employment thing.

I've got an evaluation lined up for a job with the state this week, and next week I've got an interview with a different position with the state. Mostly the pickings around here are pretty slim, especially considering I'm intentionally presenting as 'white, straight, cis-male' while job hunting. I'm thinking however, I've been looking for the better part of the year, if these jobs don't pan out for me, I might go back to school for awhile, or go visit some friends across the country or something... >_< sitting at home all day waiting for my transition to continue is driving me up a wall.

Quote from: Leila on August 26, 2014, 09:41:41 AM
It's because I am presenting as male at work. :/

Oh, I am sorry, I completely misunderstood you.

I wish you the best of luck really. Hope it turns out alright.

I chose the selection which best applies. I've worked for fortune 50 companies as executive assistant to c-suite. No one ever knew of my situation down there and to date, do not know. If they were to find out, my reply would be 'what about it?'; but I would have to be keyboarding with my feet while wearing a skirt.

Underemployed, less than half of my former wages.

I worked 3 years as an intern then one year full time at a startup company. When I told them I'd be transitioning, everything was fine and nothing changed. I haven't started present g female yet, but I'm close.

I am infrequently and underpaid. But that's because its a startup hard for cash, and nothing to do with being trans.

Retired.   I quit my last job a few years back, dissolved my businesses and am no longer in a band. 

Currently a housewife.   

I will probably end up helping run (ruin?) my father-in-law's business after he's gone.