Schilt - “Just One of the Guys? How Transgender Men Make Gender Visible at Work.”

Question 1

Why is studying trans men important?

Answer 1

1 As men, they have the same skills, education,
and abilities they had as women; they are just perceived differently

Question 2

What is the “outside within” perspective with trans men?

Answer 2

Might benefit from male patriarchy while also not being “born into it” can make inequalities more visible

Question 3

outsider-within perspective of many FTMs can translate into…

Answer 3

critical perspective on men’s advantages at work.

See things “regular men” don’t

Question 4

When did trans men not have a critical perspective?

Answer 4

• When had no job when perceived as women
• When transitioned early
• They were Androgenous before transition

Question 5

What did trans men in blue collar jobs think about their experiences before and after?

Answer 5

Felt their experience varied dramatically depending on perceived gender

Question 6

What did trans men in female typed jobs think about their experiences before and after?

Answer 6

often reported little sense of change
post-transition, as they felt that most employees were doing the same jobs regardless of gender

Question 7

How are experiences different pre and post transition:

Authority and Competency

Answer 7

• several of my interviewees reported receiving more respect for their thoughts and opinions post- transition
  (ex. given more credit, right more, etc)
• a positive change in the evaluation of their abilities and competencies after transition
  (ex. a law firm told Thomas’ boss “good job at firing sasha, she was useless, Thomas is great!” - Sasha and Thomas = same person)

(can drop emotional labour of kindness at work)

Question 8

How are experiences different pre and post transition:

Respect and Recognition

Answer 8

• increase in recognition for hard work
  (ex. receiving all the support and materials required, before= expected to do same job without support)

being passed over for hiring and promotions in favor of less
productive male coworkers,

having their hard work go unrecognized, and

not being completely accepted

IMPORTANT: being freed from unwanted sexual advances or inquiries about sexuality

Question 9

How are experiences different pre and post transition:

Economic Gains

Answer 9

economic opportunities that would not have been available to them as women, particularly as masculine women.

Promoted shortly after transition (respondents felt that their promotions were related to their job performance, while these two men are not benefiting undeservedly from transition, they also are not disadvantaged.)

Question 10

What are some limitations to studying workplace gender advantages?

Answer 10

1. About one-third of my sample felt that they did not receive any gender advantage from transition
2. Ppl who started transitioned recently or no hormones, reported few changes in treatment
3. Some ppl didn’t experience authority cuz look young / or height / race

Question 11

How does race impact transition perception?

Answer 11

he was viewed as passive, a stereotype of an Asian men

“I went from being an obnoxious
Black woman to a scary Black man.”