Prior To Transition….

[Guest Zenda]

Kia Ora, {Me again and again... Umm must have time on my hands]

Since leaving school I've had numerous jobs… My first was as a telegram ‘boy’ in central London. Then in Australia-farm work - factory work - shop assistant – cleaner - Nursing home & Hospital work…. I’ve worked in restaurants - factories - youth hostels in Europe and Scandinavia - sold flowers in a market in Helsinki…

When I was in my late teens, I even did a stint as a builder’s labourer[well sort of] on beach front apartment blocks in Coogee Sydney[ I think the boss felt sorry for me-I didn’t/couldn’t do any heavy labour work, I just got the teas and lunches and shovelled sand and cement into the mixer or handed an odd brick or two to a brickie ]

For the most part my GD remained in a somewhat neutral state because of a fully occupied mind full of new experiences…that is, apart from the odd suicide attempts and stints in a couple of psyche wards…In my early twenties[after my first psyche ward trip] I was prescribed ‘Mother’s little helper’ Valium for anxiety which I took on and off for the next twenty odd years…

I ended up as an urban pestologist…I found it was a way[but obviously it didn’t last] to stop me thinking about my gender identity issues-my mind was pre occupied with my quest for knowledge –finding out about the ecology and biology of urban vertebrate & invertebrate pests. I was more[and still am] interested in finding ways to prevent infestation without the use of pesticides…You know …’prevention is better than cure!’

At the moment, I’m doing a full time course ‘computer skills for employment’ plus I do volunteer work-providing advice and info to people in need-I love interacting with and helping people…I also do part time pestology work…

Somewhat long winded I know....So now for the question…

I was wondering, do ‘late transitioner’ trans males prior to coming out ever go through the ultra feminine stage-jobs such as -girly girly personality- flower arrangements- fashion design – nursing – secretary, etc ?

Or do most stick to gender ‘neutral’ jobs where they are less likely to go overboard with the ‘denial’ stage of true self- prior to transition?

I guess, depending on one’s family environment, ‘denial’ of self and the need/desire to conform to the norm-tends to really kick in towards the middle/end of ones teens. So this question would be more towards those older trans males who had finished studies and have been working for a while - before ‘finding’ their ‘true’ selves- However younger ones feel free to participate if you have felt the need to try to conform-…

Trans women might also like to tell where they were at, prior to full self acceptance…’macho’ or ‘gender neutral’ lives?

Metta Jendar

[Guest RainBird]

Nearly every job I've had has been in hospitality and customer service, quite gender neutral..

There was one job where I did do light labor work for a company called Paspaley Pearls prior to transition, we used to tie knots and ropes, make bouye lines, oyster panels, unload shipping containers and clean lots of things.. I even found a pearl once in an old oyster panel.. but I had to hand it over

It was rather depressing and drab, very 'blokey' environment with 'bogan' type characters, I always felt like to odd-one-out.

[Guest Evan_J]

Hmm. I dunno. Got to think about that one I guess.

I suppose though that any office/ white collar job is easily gender neutral. And since I like wearing a tie as opposed to steel toes....well, I guess you get where this could go

Jobs I've had that did not fit the tie catagory were machist, tool and die, custodian.

[Guest CharliTo]

hehe, mine's is interesting. I worked as a janitor at a bar first...then a cashier at Quizno's...then I worked at a gardening store (which I ended up building lawnmowers for :'( )...then I worked at GNC...then I had a short job as a bouncer (back door one though)...then I worked at the card gaming store that I am with for a long time....and I also do gigs for filming here and there with my own company.

The bouncer gig was the only thing very masculine, but the money was good. ^^ Besides, I only worked around the back area where I mostly just kindly patted people and told them they drank too much. I did get told that I'm too gentle to work as a front door bouncer.

[Guest Martin]

Being transsexual wasn't a big issue for me until I was forced out of my gender neutral shell (the band uniform for "girls" consisted of a dress).

[Guest Paula82]

Well I'm still in the prior to transition stage but I've always had office jobs and now work in a nursing home whilst training in a medical field. As has already been said, office work is pretty gender neutral although I've always ended up working with women and definitely prefer it that way as I know I wouldn't be comfortable in a male dominated environment. I think if I was being forced to conform to a male role it would probably speed up my transition - which perhaps wouldn't be a bad thing! Maybe being allowed to be too gender neutral has caused me to become more complacent in terms of when to transition. I think I do try to lead a female-type lifestyle as much as possible in order to make life more acceptable at present.

[Guest karen_h]

I started out doing A/C & Refrigeration repair when i was 1637 years later and well into the RLT i'm still doing that. Boring ain't I.

Karen_H

[Guest karen_h]

I started out doing A/C & Refrigeration repair when i was 16 37 years later and well into the RLT i'm still doing that. Boring ain't I.

Karen_H

[Guest Andrea-M]

Started working life in engineering and 24yrs later i am still an engineer/director , just happen to be good at it , it is male a dominated proffession, fortunatley i am good enough and respected enough that my gender decision seems to have no impact on my career. Would rather do something a lot more creative. Would love to work in a gender neutral environment but there seems little point , engineering(running my own business) is very profitable. Disadvantages :- generally can't wear a skirt (could be a bit dangerous and maybe to revealing) advantages :- wear what the hell you like to business meetings. Although this may sound sexist , i have had more guys help with lifting and carrying things , not that i encourage this......hehe ...really i don't ...they insist ...