Transsexual Workers: An Employer's Guide [Paperback]

Janis Walworth (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0966548809 | ISBN-13: 978-0966548808 | Publication Date: August 1, 1998

This book is designed for employers, managers, human resources personnel, implementers of employee assistance programs, and others in a position to make workplace decisions about how to handle a transsexual employee's transition from one sex to the other. The book includes basic information about transsexualism, an explanation of the transition process, illustrative personal histories, information on relevant civil rights and disability laws, tips for managing difficult situations, and a glossary. There are suggestions for dealing with coworkers' concerns, uncomfortable clients, the general public, and the media. Common workplace issues, such as pronoun usage, dress codes, restroom use, employee transfers, and health insurance, are addressed. A wider concept of transgender is also introduced as it pertains to crossdressers, transgenderists, intersex people, post-transition transsexuals, and others. A resource section lists helpful national and regional organizations, books, magazines, and videos.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

This book represents a major advance in the field of transgender employment. Transsexuals who anticipate transitioning on the job will find this book an excellent resource to place in the hands of their managers, human resource personnel, and others who will be making decisions that affect their work lives. For the manager facing for the first time the challenge of accommodating a worker's transition from one sex to the other, this book will be a lifesaver. In a concise and readable format, it provides a basic understanding of transsexualism and the steps involved in the transition process. It goes on to address issues that may arise in a wide range of workplace scenarios. The glossary acquaints the reader with a basic vocabulary of terms used in discussing transgender topics, and the resource section points the way to additional information. More complete than the chapters and booklets heretofore available, this is the first book devoted entirely to the topic of managing transition on the job.

From the Author

My hope in writing this book was to make the process of transitioning on the job easier both for managers and for transsexuals themselves. In preparation for writing it, I listened to the stories of many transsexual women and men who transitioned on the job, or tried to, and I learned what worked and what didn't. I also heard the perspectives of business people, psychologists, and diversity consultants who have dealt with issues related to transgender employment. I am honored to be the vehicle through which the experience of those who pioneered the pursuit of wholeness in their work environments can make a tangible difference in the lives of those who follow.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 135 pages
• Publisher: Center for Gender Sanity (August 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0966548809
• ISBN-13: 978-0966548808
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,692,730 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Not for an FtM and not for a casual work transition, December 10, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Transsexual Workers: An Employer's Guide (Paperback)

As an FtM transitioning in a workplace of reasonable humans beings, I bought this book looking for something to help them out when I transitioned. When I got it, my supervisor and I looked it over and decided that it, in fact, would make people too nervous, more than they would be otherwise -- bringing up anxiety about restrooms (there's a lot of talk about restrooms), giving permission for coworkers to express inappropriate behavior and ask rude questions, etc.

We decided not to use it, as the trans person then becomes some mystical beast who experiences all sorts of horrible internal conflicts, rather than a mature person who made a choice with his life and wants to be treated just like all the other workers.

I think I owe my seamless transition to the fact that I was _me_ throughout the process and not a pathologized idea of a transsexual. My coworkers and employers know me, understand transitioning as mature choice I made, and respect me as a contributor to the organization. Not as someone, as Walworth suggests, to be pitied and understood and sympathized with.

In all, I found that this book undermined both the transsexual's dignity but also underestimated the coworkers' respect good workers. It was also very MtF-centric. (Restrooms are decidedly less of a big deal to the FtM.)

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very helpful for employers, November 11, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Transsexual Workers: An Employer's Guide (Paperback)

I am a transgendered employee at a large corporation. My manager found this book extremely helpful in assisting me with my transition at work. In particular it is accessible to people unfamiliar with gender issues without being dry or long-winded. Its employer perspective is especially helpful.

4 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars well-rounded, understandable, accessible book, October 9, 1998

By 

chris haiss (Los Angeles, California) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Transsexual Workers: An Employer's Guide (Paperback)

This is a great book about transsexual issues that answers not only the many queries an employer might have, but also the everyday questions on the subject of transgenderism (e.g. How does a person know that he/she is a transsexual? What is the difference between transsexuals and transvestites? What effect do hormone treatments have? What is electrolysis?). The answers given by the expert Janis Walworth are written so that everybody should be able to understand them. They are precise and to the point, and the reader doesn't have to have a PhD in transgenderism to gain some understanding of this complex issue. The way the book is structured makes it a very enjoyable read, allowing insight into a generally little-known area of life. I can heartily recommend this book to all readers. It shows that in sex/gender, like most human characteristics, there is not simply "black and white" and allows those in the shaded in-between zone to become part of our lives for a moment.