TY - JOUR
T1 - The Work Experiences of Transgender Individuals
T2 - Negotiating the Transition and Career Decision-Making Processes
AU - Budge, Stephanie L.
AU - Tebbe, Esther N.
AU - Howard, Kimberly A.S.
PY - 2010/10/1
Y1 - 2010/10/1
N2 - This study explored the work experiences of individuals who have started transitioning from their biological sex to a different gender expression through 18 interviews of transgender-identified individuals. Thirteen of the participants identified as male-to-female transsexuals, 2 participants identified as female-to-male transsexuals, 2 participants identified as female-bodied gender queer individuals, and 1 participant identified as a biological male cross-dresser. Using a grounded theory (K. Charmaz, 2006) approach, 2 separate work experience models emerged: (a) the process of gender transitioning at work and (b) the career decision-making process. The 3 phases of the first model included a pretransition phase, during the transition phase, and posttransition phase. Within these 3 phases, the following 5 major themes emerged: preparation for the work transition, coming out at work, presentation and appearance at work, others' reactions at work, and affective/coping experiences related to work. The second model resulted in 6 major themes related to career decision making: occupational barriers, occupational prospects, occupational aspirations, taking action, occupational gratification, and contextual influences.
AB - This study explored the work experiences of individuals who have started transitioning from their biological sex to a different gender expression through 18 interviews of transgender-identified individuals. Thirteen of the participants identified as male-to-female transsexuals, 2 participants identified as female-to-male transsexuals, 2 participants identified as female-bodied gender queer individuals, and 1 participant identified as a biological male cross-dresser. Using a grounded theory (K. Charmaz, 2006) approach, 2 separate work experience models emerged: (a) the process of gender transitioning at work and (b) the career decision-making process. The 3 phases of the first model included a pretransition phase, during the transition phase, and posttransition phase. Within these 3 phases, the following 5 major themes emerged: preparation for the work transition, coming out at work, presentation and appearance at work, others' reactions at work, and affective/coping experiences related to work. The second model resulted in 6 major themes related to career decision making: occupational barriers, occupational prospects, occupational aspirations, taking action, occupational gratification, and contextual influences.
KW - Barriers
KW - Career experiences
KW - Gender identity
KW - Gender transition
KW - Transgender
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=77958609776&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=77958609776&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1037/a0020472
DO - 10.1037/a0020472
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:77958609776
SN - 0022-0167
VL - 57
SP - 377
EP - 393
JO - Journal of Counseling Psychology
JF - Journal of Counseling Psychology
IS - 4
ER -