Transitioning in Academia

[Guest]

Hi there,

I am a pre-everything MtF woman who is currently completing her masters and looking to move on to a PhD. Eventually, I do want to hold university position. However, I am uncertain how my transition will effect my academic future.

My questions are:

1. For those who went on to higher education while transitioning, what problems did you encounter regarding publications?
2. Did you feel it necessary to tell your advisor about your situation so they could help you?
3. What resources and support systems did you look for in your academic department?
4. Did you encounter difficultly post graduation finding an academic position?

Thanks,

Rosalind Claire

[VickySGV]

Although I do have a doctoral level degree, it was obtained before any transition, and I have not tried -- yet-- to get a teaching position now that I am "post" but I do have a number of friends who are in academic fields. The answer is "mixed" depending on the academic community that you try to enter. One friend is a FtM who transitioned at a church oriented college, and was promptly fired for doing it. Dr, Ben Barre who is one of the foremost authorities on women's issues at Stanford is an example of an FtM who is well respected, and the school name gives an indication of his reception and success. Jennifer Finney Boylan is another highly known MtF academic whose autobiography "She's Not There" was updated and expanded last May. (Read it!!) If you transition in academia you will have to learn who you are up against in your journey and be ready to take chances, but there will be NO single answer to the questions. Once the Genie is out of the lamp however, no stuffing it back in. We are known and respected for our work in many fields, I can drop names all day long if you can get the picture, so we are out there.

[Guest]

> The answer is "mixed" depending on the academic community that you try to enter.

I would be entering a computer science and or human factors program. These tend to be a little bit more liberal and accepting of LGBT issues.

[Guest aballofquestions]

a lot of it is going to depend on the university you are transitioning in and the university you ultimately want to work in. Some are extremely tolerant and progressive and the school and its occupants may hardly bat an eye. Some will make you a villain. I would say that community question is going to make more difference than anything else. AT LEAST, institutions of higher learning tend to be better, on average, than a lot of other areas.

[Guest LizMarie]

I would suggest you contact people like Jenny Boylan, on Facebook. Jenny is rather active on Facebook and transitioned openly and is a member of academia. She, and others like her, can give you real hands on experiences to reference as to what it's really been like for them.

[Charlize]

I would think that so much depends on the schools you will attend and those where you may want to work. Like many fields higher education is highly competitive with more applicants than positions. It is possible that being trans could even help if diversity is important to the institutions. Best of luck.

Hugs,

Charlize