Breaking gender barriers is no longer just about women’s empowerment. With some choosing an identity different from their original body type, transgenders too are trying to find their space in the IT workforce. Joseleen Princy, a Chennai-based IT professional with marketing company Epsilon, who changed her gender identity from a man to a woman about five years ago, says the industry is still far away from providing the ideal workplace for them.
VEENA MANI
Some positives
Among the positives, Joseleen notes, is that organisations have begun to provide gender-neutral washrooms, and that there is no open discrimination at the workplace.
But discrimination comes in subtle forms. “Once a friend was referred to one of the organisations I worked for. The HR came back saying not too many transgenders could be accommodated as it would harm the organisation’s image,” she says.
Based on her experiences and that of her transgender friends, she says employers in cities like Bengaluru are more open to considering transgender candidates than more conservative cities like Chennai.
She says if someone is struggling to find a job, they should consider going through an NGO that supports the LGBTQ community. But this, she feels, is not the biggest problem. After being recruited, dealing with the “stigma” and being treated differently is the bigger issue. Cab drivers and security guards also tend to be rude and offensive at the workplace.
“It is important to educate people right from the lowest rung. They also need to respect the LGBTQ community,” Joseleen says.
Transition expensive
The medical transition is expensive, and medical insurance provided by employers covers only the initial surgery. The rest of the journey has to be funded by the employee. “Aspects like hormone therapy don’t come under the ambit of insurance. But it is a huge part of the transition process,” Joseleen says.
The entire transition takes about three years, and it involves frequent visits to the doctor, for which one has to use their paid, casual and medical leaves. Organisations do not have separate provisions for transgenders. “My transition was relatively smooth because most of it happened during the pandemic. We could work from home. That helped me get some rest and complete work,” she says.
Red tape
One of the problems transgenders face relates to paperwork. Many companies insist that records – right from the school leaving certificate – be updated to reflect the change in sex, and the name, if the name has been changed. This, Joseleen says, is tedious, and often impossible to achieve.
Dealing with social stigma
Joseleen feels the only way to deal with insecurities that crop up during the transition is by having a frank conversation with the company’s human resource team and the reporting manager, understanding if the company has a Vishakha committee, and visiting a counsellor for professional help.
“There are hardly any transwomen in the IT space, so it is difficult to have role models in the industry. You have to go to other sources for help,” she advises transgenders.
She also advises the trans community to hold on to their jobs, as that can help one stay afloat if there is no support from anywhere else. In another 10 years, Joseleen says, there might be more inclusive policies for them.
Courtesy : TOI
Note: This news piece was originally published in timesofindia.com and used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes exclusively for Human Rights
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