A unique perspective
Studies consistently show that the workplace gender gap is real, impacting everything from hiring decisions to pay scales. And yet, it can be difficult to capture the differing realities that men and women experience at work. One group that has unique insights into workplace gender bias is transgender men, in particular those who transition later in life, after many years of being perceived as women.
In research conducted by sociologist Miriam Abelson, transgender men reported a number of striking differences in their workplace experience post-transition, such as "being seen as more competent, being taken more seriously, and having their authority questioned less". One interviewee offered a blunt assessment of conditions in the construction industry, where he has worked for decades: “As a male, people assume that you know what you’re talking about," he stated, “As a female, they assume that you probably don’t.” Another person shared that he was surprised at how quickly he was offered a promotion as a man, as compared to his experience when he was perceived as a woman (Bloomberg, 2017).
Not all transgender men reap the benefits of male privilege in the workplace, however, as those who were known to be transgender typically face discrimination on that front, and others who work in historically female professions, such as nursing, perceive a degree of bias in their workplace interactions once they are known as men.
Read this article from Bloomberg News to learn more about the striking insights that come with changing gender in the workplace.
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References:
Bloomberg News [2017, January 11]. What trans men know about gender in the workplace. Bloomberg News. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-01-11/how-transgender-workers-experience-the-gender-gap
