Someone asked upthread
“What do the transgender people think a woman is? It can't be biology because they're never going to have it. It can't really be clothes because we run a spectrum from sniff and pick from the wash basket in the dark because we're busy to full on Barbie. It can't be educational level or mothering style because we're all unique.“
Id imagine that the clothes issue was a particular problem from DU at work, because all the junior doctors wear scrubs and crocs. Scrubs are supposedly “unisex “ but they are usually cut for the male body - larger at the shoulders, smaller at the waist and hips. So no chance to “ dress as a woman at work “ .
All junior doctors in hospital will have long hair tied back and have no jewellery like a watch, bracelet or necklace, although some might wear stud earrings or a simple band ring. Most women wear very little if any make up and have short unpainted nails.
So how on earth does a man in that situation perform femininity? yes he can change his first name but lots of patients don’t bother to read a name badge.
Patients and staff will see a 6ft tall, broad shouldered ex rugby player with an Adam’s apple, a 5 o’clock shadow and a receding hairline who walks like a man and sounds like a man.
He also acts with the entitlement of a white Middle class man.
So the only people at work who can make him feel feminine are the other staff. This must be much more important than it might be in an office, when a transwomen can (probably unlike any of the women ) wear a short skirt , high heels, tights and a see - through blouse that shows their underwear. They can have long painted nails, a great deal of make up and long, carefully styled hair do.
In hospital , all junior doctors have the same courtesy title of doctor, so no chance to correct others all day - “it’s MISS Upton not Mr. “. Patients will just refer to you as “ a/ the doctor “.
You don’t get to send emails all day with your pronouns and correct people.
You spend your day running around like a blue arsed fly, doing handovers , ward rounds, chasing results, answering bleeps , writing notes and discharge summaries, ordering investigations, talking to patients and relatives. Little time for head tilting, giggle, girl talk and hair flicking.
It must be a very unrewarding setting for those who need others to validate their feminine gender identity.