The impact of your job vs CDing

[Jane Doe]

I was wondering the other day what problems does your job cause you against preparing yourself for feminization?
For example, I work long days as a motor mechanic in a very male dominated environment to which I think no one knows of my alter ego. I therefore have to blend in a little, eg facial hair, eyebrows and proportionate body hair on my hands and arms if you understand what I mean. I also suffer from a grimy environment, oil on my hands ( I cannot stand latex gloves ) under my nails and often come home with minor cuts and generally non feminine looking, or feeling hands. Underdressing never inspires me however it would be totally unsuitable for me if it did due to the physical side of my work.

So, I was wondering if any of you suffer from similar issues that makes your dressing a little awkward to make you look as feminine as you feel. :battingeyelashes:

[Anna H]

Hi Jane,

Yep, I get that. I do machine work, and there are jobs
that are dirty and nasty and don't lend themselves to
feeling even the slightest bit 'girly'. In fact that could
even be a somewhat dangerous distraction.

(i also can't do sensitive mechanical work with any sort
of gloves....)

Here...it comes and goes and I never know how long it'll
take to get a job done, so it's usually the case that
playing 'full' dress up goes on the back burner.

Luckily, i work at home and can get by with girl clothes
like jeans/t-shirts/work boots....so I don't have to worry
about co-workers. But it does usually take a few days
after the work is done to get my hands back to feeling
....um...right?...before I can feel 'right' enough for nicer
clothes or picture taking/etc.

Hard to explain...it's some type of mindset for me. Girl
time is on hold, but i usually have at least a bit of
it at all times.

It helps to read this forum, though, and be inspired by
others. 'Kate-time' is not ever too far away...there's always
something to look forward to...:happy:

♥

[queenie]

I work in financial services and the industry as a whole is ultra conservative. Kind of a bummer, really. I'm typically in a suit every day and that makes me feel pretty blah. My rebellion is wearing non-white shirts. =P

[Cheryl T]

My job and the cold destroys my nails and leaves my hands so rough so I surely understand.
As for the hair and eyebrows...screw them...I'm being me. I've been fully shaved for 10 years (and wear shorts to work 80% of the time and no one has said a thing.

[Marcelle]

My job can cause some issues depending on what I am doing. If I am spending a lot of time doing military training I do tend to come home beat up with bruises and scrapes which look less than feminine. Nails always get broken so I have to keep them a bit shorter than I would like (but then again I look around at a lot of GGs and they have short nails - nail polish can always make even short nails look nice). Regarding body hair, facial hair, brows I am with Cheryl on this "screw them" I am being me and to date nobody has said a thing.

Hugs

Isha

[reb.femme]

I worked as a propulsion systems tech for twenty years (jet engines and fuel systems) always stunk of fuel and oil, so I know where you are coming from on this one. Takes days to get out of the skin. These days, my worst fear is breaking a nail getting into a computer or my pen leaks.

Other than gloves or barrier cream there's not much else you can do. Get a job in the office is my advice :heehee:.

Rebecca

[Brooklyn]

I worked in the construction industry for many years. Now I'm 2/3rds through cosmetology school and can finally be myself!

[Beverley Sims]

Working in mechanical engineering, barrier cream was a good friend.
Nail lacquer helped a lot and I needed to take care of my nails.
I also realise diesel and solvent fumes can't always be covered by perfume, garlic helps but it does not attract women.
You just have to get a "poofy" job. :)

Like selling fairy floss.

[Anna H]

Fairy floss. I may be interested. heehee!

I'm my own secretary, so I do have That going for me!
Now if Kate will just get finished on the lathe and get dressed
and get those books in order....

:happy:
♥♥ ~Kate~

[Katey888]

Well Bev, I had a 'poofy' job for quite a few decades - nice thing about it: no smells, bruises, grease, broken nails... People expect you to be well groomed, clean shaven, good personal hygiene, well dressed...

Perfect training really :)

But I empathise with our less fortunate sisters who do have to conform and survive in a rough and tough environment - it can't be easy when you have that inner beauty clawing at you for freedom...

Katey x

[Nikki A.]

I'm in auto sales and need to maintain a certain apperance. However it is a casual place and can mix in a little on my fem side in, just not too obvious.

[CarlaWestin]

I'm a breast form consultant and stiletto heel shoe evaluator along with bra implementation expert for Dolly Parton.

:heehee:

Not really, my job is very male and tool oriented but in the surreal venue of the casino industry. I appreciate the extreme swing from reality to Carla.

[Anna H]

so....you don't evaluate stilettos? well shoot, i was going to ship
you a dozen pair from my Italian sources to get your professional
opinion....

;)

[CarlaWestin]

so....you don't evaluate stilettos? well shoot, i was going to ship
you a dozen pair from my Italian sources to get your professional
opinion....

;)
Whoops! My bad. Why, yes! Yes I do, um, err, evaluate sexy shoes and, corsets and, leather bondage gear and, italian super cars and, bitcoins and........

[Marcia Blue]

I too, work in the automotive/light truck industry. My hands and nails are always a mess. I just do the best I can when dressing.

I got rid of my beard years ago. I keep my brows trimmed and somewhat shaped. Shave my arms and hands before going out. Screws with the image a little, but I do not care any more.

[CarlaWestin]

Just a note. Way back when I worked on cars for a living. I used to rub my hands with a moistened Ivory soap bar and cake them with soap. Every time I encountered water, I would re-apply the soap film. At the end of the day, all trace of grease stain would just wash right off.

[Kristy 56]

I now work in a female dominated occupation. I see a lot of nice outfits,shoes,hair etc. the impact is that I wish it was me wearing it !

[Bria]

Jane, I also work in auto repair so I know exactly what you are talking about! Just about two weeks ago I shaved my beard off after almost 40 years, sure feels and looks different, but now I can do makeup and hopefully go out soon. Keeping the hands looking good is hard, but using hand lotion regularly really helps keep the skin smooth so it is easier to get the grease and dirt off. Haven't yet got a solution for the broken finger nails except keep them short. As far as the body hair goes I'm lucky that my body hair is very light colored so if I shave my hands and wrist areas it is not very noticably.

Just keep fighting the dirt and grease and do the best you can, Huds Bria

[MsDanii]

At the end of the day we have to remember.
If it wasn't for the occupation we have chosen or been brought into.
It fuels our budget for our passion.... That is what I am thankful for :)

[Shirley Anne]

Im also in the automotive industry, is there an abnormally high incidence of crossdressing in the motor trade.

[Raychel]

I am an auto mechanic as well, nothing girly about any of it.
especially in the wither, snow, ice and road salt dripping on you all day.
hands look and feel like they got run over by a truck.


It sure is nice to get away from all that and get all dolled up. :thinking:

[andreanna]

Well girls, I'm in the transportation industry, truck drivers are not to wear bras, panties or forms, but I do. The only time I have to remove my forms is when I get out to fill up

[Helen Grandeis]

I choose not to be Out at work because of the need to go nose to nose with bullies sometimes. I feel I could get my ears pierced if I wanted to. My lack of leg hair, arm hair and upper chest hair is always covered up.

[Vanessa Rose]

I work in the hospital...high falutin surgery.... If I drop a boob form, a heart chamber fills up and sparky dies... or i just break a toe.

Don't want to break a toe. They say break a leg, but I don't think anyone really means that. Never heard anyone say go break a boob though... I guess for people in my line of work the motto is don't cut off anesthesia line.

Vanny

[ElisabethK]

I work in academia so there is little impact. I could probably get away with dressing at work and get more praise than problems with administration, but I'm not going there :)

[SometimesJen]

I've been in telecom and information systems for the last 15 years. Both are heavily male dominated al, with a heavy my ex military presence. Even many of the women I've worked with are strong type-A personality. While I have lots of hair on my arms, it's very light colored. This has gotten me called "queer" & "sissy boy" because it wasn't noticeable from across the room. I've been harassed for wearing red & salmon colored button-down shirts to work, instead of blue, black, & other "manly" colors. My last career advancement didn't come until I grew a beard.

While you'll never find me wearing a skirt & heels to the office, it doesn't prevent me from dressing as I please at home.

[Allison Chaynes]

Jane, I was a supervisor of diesel mechanics and underdressed every day my last two years at that job. I was very careful about it and never got outed. I wore pantyhose during the winter months. But I would agree that some things, like pierced ears, shaped brows, etc would have caused issues at work.

[Ginger Jameson]

I'm a software engineer and technical lead for my team. I'd like to one day move up into management in a male dominated company. There's absolutely no way I could dress at work. Not that I've got the confidence for it.

I worry that even slightly feminine-seeming things, like pink or "salmon" shirts might risk a loss of confidence by the people above me. So I paint my toes, wear my panties, and make sure the chain on my pink princess necklace is long enough that it can't possibly fall out. It hasn't been a problem, since I'm not really looking to live as a woman, but I would definitely enjoy more freedom.

[Billiejosehine]

I work as a behaviorist for children in the autism spectrum. In the office there are 10 supervisors who are all women and 40 other behaviorist who are all women, except me and 4 other guys. I do feel comfortable going to work in a more feminine attire, but I try to keep it androgynous. I do also paint my finger nails, but with clear polish. My only concern at the moment is that I work lots of different families and their children, so I do have to be careful in that respect. The one good thing is that when it comes time to transition at work, I will be leave my current clients and will get new clients that will not know me as a guy.

[Maria 60]

I work construction and always getting cuts and bruises, and the cold or the heat isn't doing my skin it's best. But I have noticed the last few years the tuff guy construction worker look is changing. Most of the guys shave all there body hair and more then half get there eye browse threaded, almost all of us have both ears pierced. Its hard to still get used to hearing a conversation with two construction worker on where they get threaded and how much they pay, or one guy showing another one what happened when he shaved his chest hair and wants the other guy to show him how to do it.

[Danielle_cder]

I too work in a shop, a dirty dirty shop doesn't really hinder my fem side just a bit more work in the shower to scrub it off.

[Annaliese]

Years ago I work in the same field as you, burns, cuts grimy hands, Back then I did not even thing about under dressing, if I had, I would not have. Bending over cars all day, rolling around a creeper. There is to much of a chance of pantie peek. Now as a teacher, little impack

[MsJoann]

I was self employed for years. Most of the time I worked alone (printing business) and I could wear just about any type of tops/jeans etc. to work. Not many customers/associated noticed or cared. My biggest gripe was afper cleaning ink off the presses, the residue would get under my nails making it a horror show getting clean.

[TXRobin]

I get by with shaving and other good personal hygiene. But i'm always coming home with new cuts, bruises and burns, A few months ago I got burned through my hood in a rocking fire and had a 4 inch burn on my head that makeup couldn't even fix :/ And underdressing is a huge no go for me, Clothes tend to disappear fast if you get hurt at work.

[Veronnie2]

I always underdress for work. I am so used to having my girlie things on i do not change my dressing habits. Fortunatly for me I am an engineer in construction so my dress code is jeans and a denim shirt for work. So i am quite able to hide my undies from c0-workers. Usually that is. Mistakes can occur. I prefer to have my femme side available when ever I can as I do feel i am veronnica. Veronnie2

[Jane Doe]

Well Im suprised at the number of Mechanical engineers, mechanics and those who get dirty hands on here who share the same lifestyle as mine. There again I wonder if its really because we are 'expected' to be macho in our male environment that Crossdressing is actually a release from the pressures of having to comply. Im still kind of new to understanding all of this as I have been rather private in my CD for years until recently and I suppose to a big degree this forum has enlightened me and shown me I am not alone or abnormal as I believed I was.

However just today I came across another thought on this matter when I felt my fingers were getting rougher than usual and on inspection I found a few slivers of aluminium in two fingers. Rather than think I must get those out before they get in deeper, I thought I must remove these before I ruin another pair of stockings! The many pairs I have ruined by laddering one is bordering on criminal. I have loads of odd ones now, JD x :)

[Adriana Moretti]

I HAD to take a job as a laborer once (picture that one)..needless to say I purged...but quit that lousy job and went to art school..but I get it...I used to come home from work and throw on a dress and it just felt awkward....It wasnt the dressing...the job just wasnt me i guess

[Shy_Confusion]

I work in food delivery. In and out of restaurants all day. You'd think it would be clean and easy, but it's dirty and nasty. Cuts and scrapes happen constantly. I do work alone so I could probably get away with some stuff, but to be honest I like the idea that those two areas are completely separate. I just have to remind myself to not stare at waitresses' shoes.

[teri g]

I too am surprised at the number of "tool guys" here. I'm a mechanic/manager, about 50/50%. While it's not as bad as it used to be when I was in the shop 100% of the time, cuts, burns, scrapes etc are still a problem. Barrier cream (the modern version of the soap trick) and nitrile gloves are my best friends in the shop. In fact I go out of my way to protect my hands to the point where people will comment on how good my hands look "for a mechanic".

[Caden Lane]

I'm in Law Enforcement. So it suppresses my dressing...but also exacerbates my need to dress because of the stress.

[BLUE ORCHID]

Hi Jane, After forty years in the petroleum industry now Retired five years I am able to keep my hands and nails nice.