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trans2004-06-30 05:46 pm
zor-ak.livejournal.com) wrote in trans2004-06-30 05:46 pm
(no subject)
i hear alot of stories in these communities about people have problems with the social construction of gender. i have also had an experience like this, but i am fortunate, even in the middle of nowhere (8 miles from idaho) to actually have a good support network in the str8 community. it amazes me sometimes. here is my story:
i work the front desk for conferences. ten times during the summer we have orientation for new students. parents bring their students to come and tour the campus, register for classes and learn about the university. i hand out keys to rooms. it is my laid back summer job (this is my 7th summer, did it when i was an undergrad). at the end of each session, parents and students fill out evals, one for the programming, one for the rooms. the parents turn theirs into the desk.
this last session, one of these particular evals was targeted to me. now keep in mind, the parents love me. i inherited this gene from my father with allows me to converse with complete strangers. i have a knack for working with the parents. but, we get this eval (i did not see the eval) that says, brace yourself, it is inappropriate for a woman to have no hair and i should not be allowed to work here (i have a shaved head, as of recently, but i do not bind). this parent wrote it on two seperate evals (at this point i only know of the one); one eval is for housing, one for programming (which i have nothing to do with). first thing i thought was, you don't know anything about me or why i have no hair. then i thought, what a bitch. and i was angry. at this point, i had heard about the hotel eval but we could not find it.
later, i took some stuff back to the orientation office and started to ask if they had heard about this. so i said, "didjoo..." they responded, "we heard." i said "about the eval?" now, in most cases i might be required to change my appearance, or get fired, but the office staff talked about how appalled they were, at which point i learned of the second eval. they told me what it said and all were really upset about it. they said i should not have to wear a hat or cover it up. it made me feel good inside to see that i had support in whatever i did.
now you see why i work a desk job every summer. good times. i am trying not to be self conscience though.
i work the front desk for conferences. ten times during the summer we have orientation for new students. parents bring their students to come and tour the campus, register for classes and learn about the university. i hand out keys to rooms. it is my laid back summer job (this is my 7th summer, did it when i was an undergrad). at the end of each session, parents and students fill out evals, one for the programming, one for the rooms. the parents turn theirs into the desk.
this last session, one of these particular evals was targeted to me. now keep in mind, the parents love me. i inherited this gene from my father with allows me to converse with complete strangers. i have a knack for working with the parents. but, we get this eval (i did not see the eval) that says, brace yourself, it is inappropriate for a woman to have no hair and i should not be allowed to work here (i have a shaved head, as of recently, but i do not bind). this parent wrote it on two seperate evals (at this point i only know of the one); one eval is for housing, one for programming (which i have nothing to do with). first thing i thought was, you don't know anything about me or why i have no hair. then i thought, what a bitch. and i was angry. at this point, i had heard about the hotel eval but we could not find it.
later, i took some stuff back to the orientation office and started to ask if they had heard about this. so i said, "didjoo..." they responded, "we heard." i said "about the eval?" now, in most cases i might be required to change my appearance, or get fired, but the office staff talked about how appalled they were, at which point i learned of the second eval. they told me what it said and all were really upset about it. they said i should not have to wear a hat or cover it up. it made me feel good inside to see that i had support in whatever i did.
now you see why i work a desk job every summer. good times. i am trying not to be self conscience though.