Question

Being trans in academia?

Answer 1

Stacy Smith? is a trans professor at the university of Ottawa. She transitioned while being a professor, and it seems like her colleagues have been pretty accepting this far

Answer 2

I come at this from a statistics background and lens, but I can say generally that the academic community is socially very liberal and accepting of trans/queer individuals. Of course - different schools have different cultures, but I’ve gotten degrees from three institutions located in the UK, USA, and Canada, and these were all very accepting universities.

Answer 3

Probably depends more of the country than of the academia field

In my country (France) I'd say people that I meet in college are all tolerant and I wouldn't be able to remember any person which would have problems with trans people.  
But well, if you search in every college you might find someone who doesn't "like" trans people, just like every where I guess

Answer 4

I have no anedoctes, just came to wish you good luck and success!

PS: Choose your advisors wisely.

Answer 5

The undergrad maths club at my university is more queer per person than the queer club is.

Answer 6

My friend's girlfriend is a trans math nerd and she's actually a professor at a very fancy university (eastern US) on tenure track. I'm impressed as hell with her career because she's relatively young for academia, and her publication record is amazing. IDK what's the workplace environment is like and if she's out as a trans woman to her colleagues, but she's definitely out as a lesbian / living with a female partner. This reminds me we're meeting up in a month or so, I live on the other side of the world so it's always nice to get the chance :')

Answer 7

My favorite living mathematician is Emile Riehl. I didn't realize she was queer until I heard it on a podcast, which is a testament to the mathematical community. I'm sure their are notable horror stories, and I know it's miles off from being trans, but perhaps that's a good sign.

Answer 8

I know of some trans researchers in mathematics and theoretical computer science. I don't know any of them personally.

Interestingly enough, the only trans person I personally know (or, better stated, the only one of my acquaintances and friends that I know is trans)  is a sister of one of my colleagues. Most of the research group met her before the transition, and had absolutely no issues with her after the transition (as one would expect from sensible people).

My advice would be to pursue the academic career if that's what you're passionate about.

Unfortunately, yes, our society puts a lot of extra pressure on women in academia (and I assume if you're trans it can only be worse), but my experience tells me that academia is more open and more welcoming than most environments.

Answer 9

Lots of trans people in science, I’ve got some trans friends in bio and CS; I’m sure there are some ass holes though, some old guys even in academia can be conservative in certain ways.

Answer 10

I think that it is very accepting from what I have seen.