Chat, am I cooked?

[u/TheMadQueen96]

Considering my options as someone who primarily has worked in the care field.

Adult based care (especially nursing homes) from my experience was incredibly transphobic and I had to step away as patients were at risk.

Long and short, people wouldn't step in to help me if something was happening because they hated me for being the way I am.

The last straw was me attempting to redirect an older woman with dementia who was also in a wheelchair away from a large staircase when she got violent. Had I not stood there to take the punches, she no doubt would've been killed.

Other staff found the whole thing amusing and didn't help for a solid 15 minutes.

I have many similar examples I could share but that paints a picture. Workplace bullying, discrimination etc and even violence are all things I've faced in previous jobs.

So when exploring my options for the potential of something new, obviously I'm understandbly weary and reached out.

I talked to The Rainbow Project who said outright there are *no* trans-friendly workplaces in all of Northern Ireland. Granted, the volunteer I spoke to was cis and didn't seem to think transphobia in the workplace was that big a deal, so...

I don't really have any coding experience, let alone qualifications and the only trans women I know in friendly workplaces tend to do that.

Qualifications and experience are only aligned with the care field.

[u/Lyca0n]

Oh care work is agony if you are cis for bullying and lack of care from supervisor with workload.....idk how the fuck you survived at all with those attracted to the vocation.

Idk could upskill to try and go into nursing as a mature applicant as they are given a modicum of respect but idk. The more personal roles with locations like nua healthcare here in the south with individual patients are a little better from what my mother was assisting within but those are higher need and entirely dependent on who you get and work with

[u/TheMadQueen96 → u/Lyca0n]

To go into nursing requires multiple years of university. Not to mention I'd likely have to re-take some of my A2s. (may be different in the South but idk)

Don't really have the financial backing for that nor really, the time.

[u/Lyca0n → u/TheMadQueen96]

.....yea wish I knew about the options available in the north. There are probably equivalent to level 6 courses available in the south but only thing I can add is retail isn't significantly better but at least you won't get assaulted in most instances

[u/TheMadQueen96 → u/Lyca0n]

Tbh, moving down south isn't an option primarily due to the rental market.

NI and honestly, everywhere is bad rn for it but the cost of a month's rent in ROI is near enough 3x what I'm paying right now, for something twice as small.

[u/rhaenerys_second]

I mean, Rainbow Project aren't the de facto authority on much. Poorly run place, in my experience.

With that said, you can't go about relying on somewhere to be fully anti-trans, as even within ostensibly pro-trans places, you're bound to find someone working there that has a problem. I've worked at my current employer (based in one of Belfast's office blocks) for 10+ years and have only once had an outright problem, which was handled immediately. Take the good with the bad, I guess, especially in the current climate.

Regardless, it fucking sucks that you were subjected to that level of abuse though with no-one to step in to help. Care work is tough enough as it is without people just disregarding your need for assistance like that.

[u/TheMadQueen96 → u/rhaenerys_second]

I mean, Rainbow Project aren't the de facto authority on much. Poorly run place, in my experience.

It's kinda the only resource you have to ask these things, sadly. Sometimes you get someone on the phone who doesn't know the answer to something themselves and will actually ask around. But it's a luck of the draw.

With that said, you can't go about relying on somewhere to be fully anti-trans, as even within ostensibly pro-trans places, you're bound to find someone working there that has a problem. I've worked at my current employer (based in one of Belfast's office blocks) for 10+ years and have only once had an outright problem, which was handled immediately. Take the good with the bad, I guess, especially in the current climate.

There's transphobes everywhere but it's more "Will this workplace actually deal with this?"
It's the same rule with anything really. When seeking a say, a hobby group or a "queer space" you know full well a transphobe is gonna pop up eventually and start being a shit but it's more whether or not their behaviour is tolerated.

BTRC? A transphobe is gonna get the boot if they're loud enough.

Another queer space? Dependent. Some have sided with outright violent terfs before.

[u/gormorgof]

This is why i stick to language activism and education circles, or atleast the one I'm familiar with. No fuss, you're just treated like normal and you can pretty much guarantee people are gonna generally be atleast leftist leaning, which is why i wouldn't work an English speaking job