Hello Peoples,

First of all, I would like to say I know that there's an employment section,
But it seems to be primarily about open positions and companies who are open to trans people,
So I wanted to ask a more general question about how it is to be in a STEM subject in general.

All right,
I'm studying Computer Games Programming and have noticed that the course is easily outnumbered by guys,
I'm still not out and I've been worrying about the reaction to when that happens,
So I was wondering what have been people's experience.

I've been reading a lot about how the transitioning process usually goes over during University and how it translates to the job hunt and career issues. And I have been obviously panicking about the whole thing a fair amount, mostly because it seems that my course and preferred profession is heavily guy-populated.
I would like to have a career in software or game development and have just been wondering if there are any programmers who could tell me how this went/is-going for them.
Alternatively, anyone who went into a stem subject could also maybe tell me how it went/is-going?

Basically; Did anyone transition while studying a STEM subject? How would you characterise that process, in the sense of how you felt it was different from the general fears/experience of transitioning?

Again sorry about the potential incorrect topic location,
Hope you all have a nice day,
- Alexis

I'm not going to promote any brand names, but I was at an open club meeting for a popular indie game engine, and I saw someone in the process of transition there (other than me, I wasn't out at the time), fitting right in. Yes a lot of guys. But a growing number of girls are embracing game development. (and have for years just with frumpy clothes on  )

and hey!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ada_Lovelace
Ada Lovelace is the great mother of all computer programming.

I got started in the game development industry at a small place in Los Angeles, it was a post-op transgender who got me in at my first job in 1994. She was an art director there, one of my "smoking buddies" out in the parking lot. Everyone loved her there. Gabby Payne. The place went under, don't know what happened to her, everyone goes separate ways after a business folds.. I have to thank her immensely for getting me started into the video game industry.

I was an artist back then, but I have taken more of an interest in programming. I have a few ideas I am working on independently. Just all the "$%^&$%^&&" in the head we get around all this transition stuff has destroyed my concentration and I have difficulty getting code written.

I have been in and out of jobs over the years, tried to start a couple ideas with a friend, everyone I know in the game industry is totally cool with just about anything. It is a unique industry apart from the corporate world. maybe the big publishers are heavily "corporate", but open minded by policy , but once you get to the dev house level, folks are downright bohemian. Really most little game houses (50 or less) are wild places to work, all cool people.

The game industry is totally tran-friendly from my experiences.

And if you are studying programming of any kind....
"internet of things"..... learn to utilize embedded controllers, that's where it's going.
Games?..... programmable toys.

Augmented reality will be big too, that will work hand in hand with the embedded processors in the toys.

Welcome to the 21st century!!!!

I'm a mathematician with a nonbinary gender identity.  I figured that out while working on my PhD, and without explicitly coming out, I gradually transitioned.  I called the process "sidling out of the closet."  Various people noticed at various times.  I got some looks.  People still respect the work I do.  I didn't lose a single friend.  People who didn't like me didn't seem to change.  People who were ambivalent about me seemed less approachable.

Right now, I'm repeating the process at a private company.  It's going pretty well, all things considered.   I've been documenting that here: https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,203123.0.html

Possible bias: I live, studied, and work in Vancouver BC, which is a fairly liberal & tolerant city.  OTOH, we have a huge game development industry, so you might want to move here. 

Amy,
Ah, that's good to hear. I know that things are changing, as they always are, and that it shouldn't be too different from the general situation, but hearing that from someone else is always good.
Yeah in terms of keeping up with the industry I'm also quite worried, but hey that's how it is. I'm glad to hear someone else mention AR, I definitely prefer it over VR and I think programming for it is much more interesting!

Sparrow,
First of all, I will be bogarting "sliding out of the closet" because I love it! But also, I would love it if it went like that for me, have people notice and respect the situation but other than that have nothing/little change.
Also look at you with your fancy PhD! I'd like to get a masters in AI programming, once I've got some work experience and stability and whatnot.

I'm worrying less now!

I used to be in science (microbiology), and then later ditched that for computing, can confirm the latter is heavily guy populated but generally accepting. The former was about 40/60 male female employee ratio but with a lot of older persons working in the field, but never had any problems there even with my utter disregard for making my gender clear to others at that time.

These days I don't work in STEM but for my own business.. wouldn't think twice about going back to either field tbh if I wished to, I've always found the sciences and products of academic environments way more progressive than the average non STEM workplace. You might get the odd one with a stick up their ass about trans but on the whole a much more welcoming environment that some of the jobs I did in my youth, where anything 'different' is an automatic object of ridicule.

I am a professional mechanical engineer. I am a Senior Director at a Philadelphia Hospital. I am currently transitioning on the job. I am totally out at work, changed my ID and express at work. I have not had a comment or an issue. I am on two committees ( Infection Prevention and Control and a translational medicine device/process ) and have no issues what so ever.  Oh, there are a few problems. I have a few woman I am very friendly with at work and they keep suggesting I do this or wear that if you call that a problem. It is getting to be a lot of fun talking about stuff with them. I was always friendly with them but now on a much deeper level.

I am in this exact position myself.

I've wanted to be a game developer all my life, and a few months ago I graduated from college with a degree in game programming. I still haven't found a job in my field yet, though to be honest, I haven't done a very good job of looking either. I'm scared. I spent my time in college confronting my gender issues with a lot of therapy, and although I know what I need to do now, I run into the problem of trying to find a job while transitioning. My professors stressed that the biggest key to success was in being real with people (including yourself), yet I often feel like I'm not allowed to be. I'm pretty terrible at self promotion, and I'm not sure how to vouch for myself while presenting as someone I'm not. I'm also reluctant to try and establish myself with a male identity if that then means I then have to fight to overwrite that in people's minds with a female identity later on. Yet transition takes time and money, neither of which is on my side. In the mean time I'm working at my old job, but that's coming to an end very shortly. Not really sure what to do.

Sorry if this is a bit rambley.