HireMe

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Welcome to HireMe! For 30 minutes, let go of everything you are. Put on headphones. Make sure you don’t get interrupted. From this point onwards, you are not you. You are a 25-year old trans girl called Samira, and you’re getting ready for a job interview. [[What am I getting myself into?]] [[Step into Samira’s shoes.|samira intro]] [[More info.]] <a href="https://ec.europa.eu/esf/home.jsp?langId=en" target="_blank" ><img src="media/logos/esf.jpg" height="30%" width="30%"></a> <a href="https://kliqvzw.be/" target="_blank" ><img src="media/logos/kliq.png" height="25%" width="25%"></a>

<<silently>> <<set $confidence to 50>> <<set $present to 50>> <<set $energy to 50>> <<set $stress to 50>> <<audio "background" volume 0.4 loop play>> <</silently>> <img src="media/samira/room/pyjama.gif" height="100%" width="100%"> This is it: the day of the interview. The Big Day. You’ve been looking forward to this day ever since you started nursing school. So exciting! But you are so nervous! And there is only one hour to go! Alright, calm down. They liked you on [[paper]], otherwise they wouldn’t have invited you in for an interview, right? The question is now, will they like you in person? Let’s choose an outfit. ---- [[Choose an outfit|outfit]].

Job Summary: Assisting nurse with patient care based on individual patient needs within the scope of practice under direct supervision of the Registered Nurse. Provide pre- and post-operation care, monitor and administer medication and intravenous infusions, take patient samples, pulses, temperatures and blood pressures and provide emotional support to patients and relatives. Fulltime, nights. Qualifications: · High School graduate · Successful completion of certified nursing program. · Preferred: completion of ER training program. · Preferred: experience in acute hospital setting or ambulance service – preferred (in employment, during internship or otherwise). · Skills: motivated, good bedside manner, multi-tasker, good listener, verbal communication skills, health promotion and maintenance. ---- <<back "OK">>

Which outfit should I try on? <<click "Dress">> <<set $professionalOutfit to false>> <<replace "#outfit">> <<timed 10ms t8n>> <img src="media/samira/room/outfit2/wide.gif" height="100%" width="100%"> Ahh, your favorite dress. You love this outfit, it makes you feel so confident. But will the judges love it as well? ---- [[Wear the dress. It’s about how you feel.|go for this one]] <</timed>> <</replace>> <</click>> <<click "Pantsuit">> <<set $professionalOutfit to true>> <<replace "#outfit">> <<timed 10ms t8n>> <img src="media/samira/room/outfit1/wide.gif" height="100%" width="100%"> Yes, the outfit you were planning to wear. You wore these pants at a formal team event during your internship at the hospital. Your mentor loved them! This outfit might be more professional, but you can’t shake the uncomfortable memory it brings of life before your transition. ---- [[Wear the pantsuit. It’s about how you look.|go for this one]] <</timed>> <</replace>> <</click>> <span id="outfit"></span>

<<if $confidence>>Confidence: $confidence Presentability: $present Stress: $stress Energy: $energy <</if>>

<<silently>> <<if $professionalOutfit is true>> <<set $confidence -= 35>> <<set $present += 25>> <<else>> <<set $confidence += 25>> <<set $present -= 15>> <<set $energy += 10>> <<set $stress -= 10>> <</if>> <</silently>> <<if $professionalOutfit is true>> <img src="media/samira/room/outfit1/neutral.jpg" height="100%" width="100%"> <<else>> <img src="media/samira/room/outfit2/neutral.jpg" height="100%" width="100%"> <</if>> Outfit out of the way. What’s next. Shave? You shaved yesterday night so you wouldn’t have red bumps all over your face today, but upon closer inspection, you can see a light shade on your cheeks already. What if they have bright fluorescent lights in the room, showing every little imperfection? This is such a crippling feeling. Why didn’t [[electrolysis]] take on your facial hair? Think about this, Samira. ---- <<click "Leave your face as it is" "calm down">> <<set $shaved to false>> <</click>>. You probably won’t be sitting too close to the judges. They might not even notice. And if the lights are bright, you can just angle your face away from the lights. <<click "Shave again" "shave">> <<set $shaved to true>> <</click>>. Risk the red bumps. It’s 50/50 anyway if they appear. And red bumps could be acne, it doesn’t mean you have facial hair. Red bumps don’t out you as trans as instantly as a dark shade does. <<click "Put extra makeup on" "calm down">> <<set $confidence -= 25>> <<set $present += 15>> <<set $stress += 15>> <<set $energy -=15>> <<set $makeup to true>> <</click>>. You <em>really</em> don’t like to wear a thick layer of make-up, and it’ll definitely give you a rash tomorrow, but desperate times call for desperate measures.

Electrolysis or ‘electrology’ is the practice of electrical hair removal to permanently remove human hair from the body and/or face. For a lot of trans women, this is a very important but daunting part of their transition. It is expensive, painful and time-consuming. But to date electrolysis is the only way to remove facial hair permanently. ---- <<back "OK">>

<<if $professionalOutfit is true>> <img src="media/samira/room/outfit1/wide.gif" height="100%" width="100%"> <<else>> <img src="media/samira/room/outfit2/wide.gif" height="100%" width="100%"> <</if>> Outfit and face sorted. Aargh you’re so nervous. You need to find a way to calm down. What do people usually do before an interview to calm down? ---- <<click "Google the judges" "judges">> <<set $confidence -= 20>> <<set $calmDown to "judges">> <<audio "typing" play>> <</click>>. You could go online and try and find out more about the judges! Who are they? What do they like? Maybe you could find some clues on the world wide web. <<click "Meditate with Mittens" "pep">> <<set $confidence += 20>> <<set $stress -= 20>> <<set $energy += 10>> <<set $present -= 10>> <<audio "purring" play>> <<set $calmDown to "mittens">> <</click>>. Your trusty cat, Mittens, usually calms you down when you’re nervous or stressed. So pretty, so fluffy. <<click "Google the hospital" "google hospital">> <</click>>. Let’s see if this hospital has a openly communicated mission that explicitly reflects an open stance on diversity and inclusion. Is [[SOGIESC]] mentioned on the website?

<<silently>><<set _flip to either("heads","tails")>><</silently>> <<if _flip is "heads">> <img src="media/sketches/razor-black.png" height="100%" width="100%"> <<silently>> <<set $stress -= 10>> <<set $present += 10>> <<set $redBumps to false>> <</silently>> The shaving goes smoothly and you don’t feel any itching. You put on a bit of soothing cream. Feels like no red bumps will appear today! ---- [[Yay, it's fine!|calm down]] <<elseif _flip is "tails">> <<silently>> <<set $stress += 10>> <<set $present -= 10>> <<set $redBumps to true>> <</silently>> <img src="media/sketches/razor-black.png" height="100%" width="100%"> You start shaving and can tell immediately it was a bad idea. It starts itching and red bumps start to appear. This is not good for your self-confidence. ---- [[Oh dear...|calm down]] <</if>>

<img src="media/sketches/facebook-black.png" height="100%" width="100%"> You type their names into the search engine. Soon enough you find out that one of them has a membership card with a political party that holds some [[transphobic]] views. Let’s hope this doesn’t reflect on his own perspective on trans issues... ---- <<if $professionalOutfit is true>>Good thing I went for the more professional outfit, at least they can't judge me for that! <<click "Phew!" "next">> <<audio "typing" stop>> <</click>> <<else>> <<click "Change into the more professional outfit" "next">> <<set $professionalOutfit = true>> <<audio "typing" stop>> <</click>>. My confidence is shot now, better change clothes. <<click "Stick with the dress" "next">> <<audio "typing" stop>> <</click>>! I shouldn't have to moderate my appearance for this. <</if>>

<img src="media/sketches/cat-black.png" height="100%" width="100%"> Mittens crawls onto your lap and starts purring. You feel calm immediately. You close your eyes and let the music carry you away. You can do this interview. You are capable, qualified and motivated. ---- <<click "Phew, thanks Mittens!" "next">> <<audio "purring" stop>> <</click>>

<<if $professionalOutfit is true>> <img src="media/samira/room/outfit1/wide.gif" height="100%" width="100%"> <<else>> <img src="media/samira/room/outfit2/wide.gif" height="100%" width="100%"> <</if>> 20 more minutes before you have to leave. Time sure flies when you’re nervous. What do you want to do? ---- <<if not $reread>><<click "Reread job application" "reread application">> <<set $reread to true>> <</click>>. <</if>> <<if not $mirrored>><<click "Look at yourself in the mirror" "mirror">> <<set $mirrored to true>> <</click>>. <</if>> <<if not $voiced>><<click "Practice pitch of your voice" "practice pitch">> <<set $voiced to true>> <</click>>. <</if>> <<if $reread and $mirrored and $voiced>>[[Leave for the interview|travel]]! It looks like that's all I have time for!<</if>>

Transphobic behavior is a range of negative attitudes, feelings or actions toward individuals whose lived gender identity or gender expression differs from the gender role assigned to them at birth. It manifests itself in various ways, e.g., as direct physical violence, transphobic speech and insulting, discriminatory media coverage, and social exclusion. Transphobia also includes institutionalized forms of discrimination such as criminalization, pathologization, or stigmatization of non-conforming gender identities and gender expressions. It is a type of prejudice and discrimination similar to racism and sexism. Transgender people of color are often subjected to all three forms of discrimination at once (intersectionality). ---- <<back "OK">>

<<if $professionalOutfit is true>> <img src="media/samira/room/outfit1/wide.gif" height="100%" width="100%"> <<else>> <img src="media/samira/room/outfit2/wide.gif" height="100%" width="100%"> <</if>> You re-read the application and look for signs of inclusion on [[SOGIESC]]. The application states they are looking for an ‘[[M/V/X]]’ nurse instead of ‘M/V’, and at the bottom you read they ‘encourage everyone to apply for this position’. This feels like a solid indication the company really puts an active effort in attracting diverse applicants. ---- [[Alright|next]]!

<img src="media/sketches/mirror-black.png" height="100%" width="100%"> You stand in front of the mirror and turn sideways. There’s not a lot of curve on your chest area. Will they [[clock]] you as a transwoman? It’s so strange, wanting to [[pass]]. ---- [[Give yourself a pep-talk]].

<<if $professionalOutfit is true>> <img src="media/samira/room/outfit1/wide.gif" height="100%" width="100%"> <<else>> <img src="media/samira/room/outfit2/wide.gif" height="100%" width="100%"> <</if>> You take out your voice recorder and sit on the bed. Your voice makes you feel so self-conscious. You [[pass]] pretty well usually, but when you speak you can just see people [[clocking|clock]] you. Some day you’ll continue voice therapy. But right now you just want go to the interview like any other person and talk about the job, not about being transgender. It is too difficult to focus both on voice feminization and content. What do you do? ---- <<click "Focus on pitch" "voice">> <<set $present += 10>> <<set $stress -= 10>> <<set $energy -= 10>> <<set $pitch = true>> <<set $content = false>> <<set $transtopic = false>> <</click>>. <<click "Focus on content" "voice">> <<set $confidence += 10>> <<set $stress -= 20>> <<set $pitch = false>> <<set $content = true>> <<set $transtopic = false>> <</click>>. <<click "Focus on trans topic" "voice">> <<set $confidence += 10>> <<set $stress -= 20>> <<set $pitch = false>> <<set $content = false>> <<set $transtopic = true>> <</click>>.

SOGIESC stands for Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and – Expression, and Sex Characteristics. Because the acronym LGBTI+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bi, Trans, Intersex) puts people into categories with assumptions about fixed identities, international human rights discourses prefer using the term SOGIE(SC) as a more inclusive alternative. ---- <<back "OK">>

<<if $professionalOutfit is true>> <img src="media/samira/room/outfit1/wide.gif" height="100%" width="100%"> <<else>> <img src="media/samira/room/outfit2/wide.gif" height="100%" width="100%"> <</if>> Okay. You have to leave now. You’re as ready as you’ll ever be. How do you want to get there? ---- <<click "Go by foot" "walk">> <<set $bike = true>> <<set $energy -= 30>> <<set $present -= 10>> <<audio "background" stop>> <</click>>. <<click "Go by public transport" "bus">> <<set $bike = false>> <<audio "background" stop>> <</click>>.

<img src="media/sketches/tape-recorder-black.png" height="100%" width="100%"> <<if $pitch is true>> You find the notes from voice therapy and practice the basic sentences in a higher pitched, more ‘feminine’ voice. “Of all the vids I’ve ever viewed, I’ve never viewed a vid as valued as Alexi’s volcano vid.” “I have got a date at a quarter to eight; I’ll see you at the gate, so don’t be late.” “Which wristwatches are Swiss wristwatches?” <<elseif $content is true>> You find your own notes on common interview questions and rehearse your answers in the voice that is lower in pitch, but comes naturally to you. <<elseif $transtopic is true>> All of a sudden you realize you might have to come out during the interview. What if they notice the gap in your resume? Or that the name on your college degree still reads ‘Samir’? Are they allowed to ask you about your gender identity? You take a minute and breathe. You decide you will wait and see how you feel in the moment. Depending on the vibe, and if the judges are friendly and genuine, it might not even be a bad thing to talk about you being transgender. <</if>> ---- [[OK|next]]

<img src="media/sketches/bus-black.png" height="100%" width="100%"> <<silently>><<set _flip to either("heads","tails")>> <<audio "bus" loop play>> <</silently>> <<if _flip is "heads">> You get on the bus. You’re in luck. It’s pretty quiet today. Five more passengers sit randomly spread on your bus. Everyone seems preoccupied with their phones. These times we live in, you think, before you reach for your phone and disappear in a mindless scrolling loop on your Instagram. ---- 1. [[Oh, I'm here already|interview1]]. <<elseif _flip is "tails">> <<silently>> <<set $confidence -= 50>> <<set $stress += 50>> <</silently>> You get on the bus. Damn, it’s so crowded. You sit down in a 4 seater with one spot left. A married couple with a young boy of about 5 years is occupying the other 3 seats. “Is this seat taken?”, you ask them with a broad smile on your face<<if $pitch is true>>, in your recently rehearsed feminine voice.<<else>>. (Hah, this gives you the chance to rehearse your feminine voice after all!)<</if>> The woman has a stern look on her face. Maybe she’s not capable of smiling. She picks up her son and puts him on her lap, then looks away. Maybe she’s not capable of talking, either. Poor woman. You sit down uncomfortably. Five minutes pass. The kid keeps staring at you, then whispers something to his mom. She avoids eye-contact, but looks at every other part of you. You start to feel extremely uneasy and hope their stop is the next one. The man is now getting involved in the whispering. She tells him something, he glances at you and nods to her. They get up and head for the exit doors. What just happened here...? Your confidence is shaken, but at least the bus ride isn’t long. This is your stop. ---- 1. [[Get off the bus|interview1]]. <</if>>

Passing refers to a transgender person’s ability to be correctly perceived as the gender they identify as and beyond that, to not be perceived as transgender. Trans people who aren’t perceived as being transgender experience significantly less harassment than trans people who are visibly trans. While some transgender people may use these terms among themselves, it is not appropriate to repeat them in mainstream media unless it's in a direct quote. ---- 1. <<back "OK">>

Voice therapy or voice training refers to any non-surgical technique used to improve or modify the human voice. Because voice is a gender cue, trans people may frequently undertake voice therapy as a part of gender transition in order to make their voices sound more like what is typical of their gender, and therefore increase their readability as that gender in society. The term voice feminization is used to describe techniques used to acquire a female-sounding voice. ---- 1. <<back "OK">>

<img src="media/panel.gif" height="100%" width="100%"> <<silently>> <<audio "street" stop>> <<audio "bus" stop>> <<audio "office" volume 0.5 loop play>> <<set $comfort to $present>> <</silently>> You make it to the interview in time! A good start. After chewing on your nails for about 10 minutes, you’re invited into the interview room. Three judges with papers in front of them stare you down from head to toe. Hey! You recognize one of them. The one in the middle! Dr. Blanchard! She was your mentor during your internship. This is great! You didn’t know she was going to be here! Immediately you feel a little less nervous. A familiar face. And she wrote very good things about you. Ahh, this is good news! Or wait. Is it? She knew you as Samir, before you started [[transitioning|medical transition]], so there’s no going [[stealth]] here. Damn, it’s not up to you. You’re definitely going to have to come out. “Samir! It is you after all. I saw the last name on the resume and was wondering if I’d meet your sister today. Say, you’ve changed quite a bit!” Wow, first question and we’re already there. How do you want to respond? ---- <<click "Factually" "response1">> <<set $yip to true>> <<set $talkTrans to false>> <<set $energy += 10>> <<set $stress += 10>> <<set $comfort += 25>> <</click>>. Take the question very literally and stick to what’s relevant right now. <<click "Reluctantly" "talk trans">> <<set $yip to false>> <<set $talkTrans to true>> <<set $confidence -= 20>> <<set $stress += 20>> <<set $comfort -= 15>> <</click>>. Hesitantly you come out as trans and open up the conversation about gender. You really wished this wasn’t necessary. <<click "Lightheartedly" "response1">> <<set $yip to false>> <<set $talkTrans to false>> <<set $confidence += 10>> <<set $comfort += 10>> <<set $stress += 10>> <</click>>. Smiling, you give a general and somewhat vague reply. You can get to the trans topic later if necessary.

<<if $yip and (not $talkTrans)>> <<if $professionalOutfit>> <img src="media/samira/interview/outfit1/happy.jpg" height="100%" width="100%"> <<else>> <img src="media/samira/interview/outfit2/happy.jpg" height="100%" width="100%"> <</if>> “Yes, I have. I feel better this way. Samira is my chosen name, I don’t use Samir anymore.” ---- [[Next|interview2]] <<elseif (not $yip) and (not $talkTrans)>> <<if $professionalOutfit>> <img src="media/samira/interview/outfit1/happy.jpg" height="100%" width="100%"> <<else>> <img src="media/samira/interview/outfit2/happy.jpg" height="100%" width="100%"> <</if>> “Hi Dr. Blanchard. Nice to see you again. Well, it has been two years since we saw each other. And people change, don’t they? By the way, it's Samira now." ---- [[Next|introduction]] <</if>>

<<if $professionalOutfit is true>> <img src="media/samira/interview/outfit1/background.gif" height="100%" width="100%"> <<else>> <img src="media/samira/interview/outfit2/background.gif" height="100%" width="100%"> <</if>> <<if (not $talkTrans) and $yip and (not $professionalOutfit)>> “Okay. So you go by the name of ‘SamirA’ and you prefer wearing dresses?” ---- <<click "Come out as transgender" "talk trans">> <<set $talkTrans to true>> <</click>>. You don’t like this, but there seems to be no choice – you’re going to have to be open here. Let’s just hope they don’t say anything that [[triggers]] you. <<click "Avoid the topic" "avoid trans">> <<set $talkTrans to false>> <</click>>. Avoid the topic. You don’t like this. Let’s see if you can whimsically redirect the conversation to your qualifications as a nurse. <<elseif (not $talkTrans) and $yip and $professionalOutfit>> “Okay. So you go by the name of ‘SamirA’. Anything else that has changed?” ---- <<click "Come out as transgender" "talk trans">> <<set $talkTrans to true>> <</click>>. You don’t like this, but there seems to be no choice – you’re going to have to be open here. Let’s just hope they don’t say anything that [[triggers]] you. <<click "Avoid the topic" "avoid trans">> <<set $talkTrans to false>> <</click>>. Avoid the topic. You don’t like this. Let’s see if you can whimsically redirect the conversation to your qualifications as a nurse. <<elseif (not $talkTrans) and $yip and $professionalOutfit>> “Okay. So you go by the name of ‘SamirA’. Anything else that has changed?” <</if>>

<img src="media/samira/room/pyjama.gif" height="100%" width="100%"> This is you, Samira, a 25-year old [[trans girl|transgirl]] living in Paris. You have been out as transgender to your family and friends for over 4 years now, and started your [[medical transition]] a little over a year ago. At this point you also came out publicly and started living your life as Samira, your true self. The only thing you’re struggling with, is finding a job. You studied nursing, your biggest passion in life. You volunteered for the Red Cross and did an extra ER training to add to your resume. During your transition last year, you kept reading up on the latest developments, but there is a [[gap in your resume|gap in my resume]] that worries you. Let’s hope it doesn’t scare recruiters. A few weeks ago you applied for a [[job opening|this job]] at the hospital where you did your internship, right before you started your transition. You loved that internship and your mentor adored you. Starting an actual job at that hospital sounds like a dream come true! Much to your amazement, they invited you for an interview. And that interview is today. [[Let’s land that job!|sure]]

Transgirl or transwoman are terms that may be used by people who were assigned male at birth but identify and live as women. Some may prefer to simply be called women, without any modifier. It is best to ask which term an individual prefers. ---- <<back "OK">>

Transition / transitioning refers to the process of altering one's gender assigned at birth. It is not a one-step procedure; it is a complex process that occurs over a long period of time. Transitioning can include some or all of the following personal, medical, and legal steps: telling one's family, friends, and co-workers; using a different name and new pronouns; dressing differently; changing one's name and/or sex on legal documents; hormone therapy; and possibly (though not always) one or more types of surgery. ---- <<back "OK">>

<img src="media/sketches/bike-black.png" height="100%" width="100%"> <<audio "street" volume 0.5 loop play>> It’s only a 25 minute walk. It’s not raining now, but there are some dark looking clouds on the horizon. The fresh air makes you feel calmer, and you're there before you know it. ---- [[Go into the interview|interview1]].

<<if $professionalOutfit is true>> <img src="media/samira/interview/outfit1/neutral.jpg" height="100%" width="100%"> <<else>> <img src="media/samira/interview/outfit2/neutral.jpg" height="100%" width="100%"> <</if>> “I have changed indeed. I came out as trans and started transitioning right after my internship two years ago. I am in the process of changing my gender marker on my ID and my name has changed officially already to Samira." ---- [[Next|talk trans response]]. Okay, let's see how this plays out...

<<if (not $professionalOutfit)>> <img src="media/samira/interview/outfit2/happy.jpg" height="100%" width="100%"> "Exactly. I like to wear whatever feels comfortable. Before I didn’t do this, so this is a change from when you last saw me. What hasn’t changed however, is my last name, and my love for nursing.” ---- [[I'm in charge of this|introduction]]. <<else>> <img src="media/samira/interview/outfit1/happy.jpg" height="100%" width="100%"> “Well, my last name’s stayed the same.” *smiles* ---- [[I'm in charge of this|introduction]]. <</if>>

<<if $professionalOutfit>> <img src="media/samira/interview/outfit1/background.gif" height="100%" width="100%"> <<else>> <img src="media/samira/interview/outfit2/background.gif" height="100%" width="100%"> <</if>> “Ah, you’re transgender? I have heard about this. There’s this show on TV about it. This means you are a man but you feel like a woman, right?” ---- <<click "Educate them" "talk trans response2">> <<set $educator = true>> <</click>>. You take a deep breath and decide this remark comes from ignorance, not malignance. Apparently there’s no avoiding the topic, even though talking about your own very personal experience of gender does not feel comfortable in front of a panel of judges. You decide to give the judges a quick introduction to the topic. Maybe this will open up the conversation about how inclusive the hospital is. <<click "Avoid the topic" "talk trans response2">> <<set $educator = false>> <</click>>. "A man that feels like a woman”... that’s not what it’s like at all. This hurts and you feel extremely [[triggered|triggers]]. You wish she hadn’t just said that, even though she probably means well. Your confidence is shaking and you’re scared to try and educate them. You feel most comfortable with keeping it short and on topic, even if that means you might not be able to ask them about their inclusion policy.

<<if $professionalOutfit is true>> <img src="media/samira/interview/outfit1/background.gif" height="100%" width="100%"> <<else>> <img src="media/samira/interview/outfit2/background.gif" height="100%" width="100%"> <</if>> Okay, Samir-A, then. So, I know you, but briefly introduce yourself for the other members of the jury please. ---- <<if (not $talkTrans)>> [[Confidently let 'em know why you’re here|confident]]! You’re feeling confident in having been able to avoid talking about you being trans, which is not the first reason why you’re here anyway, right? This is your time to shine! <<elseif $talkTrans and (not $educator)>> [[Give a slightly nervous introduction|nervous]]. You can talk about the reason you’re really here: Nursing. But your confidence is shaken because of having to talk about your gender identity, and you’re finding it difficult to remember the introduction you had prepared so well. <<elseif $talkTrans and $educator>> [[Give a very nervous introduction|bad]]. Your confidence is shot. Not only did you have to talk about trans issues, you were made to be an educator on the topic. Try and get yourself together Samira! You love nursing. It’s your passion. <</if>>

<<if $educator>> <<if $professionalOutfit>> <img src="media/samira/interview/outfit1/sad.jpg" height="100%" width="100%"> <<else>> <img src="media/samira/interview/outfit2/sad.jpg" height="100%" width="100%"> <</if>> "Well, no, not exactly. It means my gender assigned at birth doesn’t match my gender identity. I have always been a woman, but was put into a male gender role when I was born. Gender identity and sex characteristics are separate from each other. In my case, the two didn’t line up. When I was born, the doctors said I was a boy. As I grew up however, I discovered I was not. I knew it in my head and felt in my heart. I have now transitioned and go through life as a woman, Samira. I feel like I have come to life finally, and am so much happier for it.” Ouch, that was difficult as always. ---- 1. [[See how the judges respond|talk trans response 3]]. <<elseif (not $educator)>> <<if $professionalOutfit>> <img src="media/samira/interview/outfit1/sad.jpg" height="100%" width="100%"> <<else>> <img src="media/samira/interview/outfit2/sad.jpg" height="100%" width="100%"> <</if>> "Yes. That’s it sort of. The point is, I have transitioned and now go through life as Samira. And it’s made me a million times happier." Phew, okay. You managed to avoid going into too much detail. ---- 1. [[Get on with the interview|introduction]]. <</if>>

<<if $professionalOutfit>> <img src="media/samira/interview/outfit1/background.gif" height="100%" width="100%"> <<else>> <img src="media/samira/interview/outfit2/background.gif" height="100%" width="100%"> <</if>> The judges look at you and nod. The judge on the left says: “My nephew has a boyfriend who’s trans as well. He wears lipstick and paints his nails. I don’t have a problem with it at all. Everyone is free to do what they want.” The judge on the right looks at his paper, sighs, then continues: “Let’s get to business. Samira. Tell us a little bit about yourself.” You don’t really know how to feel about their reaction, but it is time for the introduction you prepared. Let's hope your confidence holds up. ---- [[Move on and talk about the job|introduction]]. Finally!

<<if $professionalOutfit is true>> <img src="media/samira/interview/outfit1/happy.jpg" height="100%" width="100%"> <<else>> <img src="media/samira/interview/outfit2/happy.jpg" height="100%" width="100%"> <</if>> You straighten your posture and start introducing yourself in an eloquent, charismatic manner, emphasizing your passion for nursing and why you would be the perfect candidate for this job. ---- [[Next|end]]

<<if $professionalOutfit is true>> <img src="media/samira/interview/outfit1/neutral.jpg" height="100%" width="100%"> <<else>> <img src="media/samira/interview/outfit2/neutral.jpg" height="100%" width="100%"> <</if>> You introduce yourself and stress how much you love nursing. You manage to portray yourself as an adequate candidate, but because of the nerves forget to mention your ER training and some other important qualities you possess. You don’t do terribly, but you could have done better had you been put less on the spot. ---- [[Next|end]]

<<if $professionalOutfit is true>> <img src="media/samira/interview/outfit1/sad.jpg" height="100%" width="100%"> <<else>> <img src="media/samira/interview/outfit2/sad.jpg" height="100%" width="100%"> <</if>> You stutter your way through your introduction, leaving out very important reasons as to why you would be a good choice for this position. You walk out of the interview feeling defeated. This could have gone so much better... ---- [[Next|end]]

<<silently>> <<audio "office" stop>> <<audio "background" volume 0.4 loop play>> <</silently>> HERE'S HOW YOU DID: Outfit: <<if $professionalOutfit>>* You decided to wear the more professional-looking outfit, which improved your presentability but made you less confident. <<else>>* You decided to wear a nice dress instead of a more professional-looking outfit, which boosted your confidence but made the judges raise their eyebrows.<</if>> To shave or not to shave: <<if $shaved>><<if $redBumps>>* You chose to shave, but were unlucky enough to get a rash from doing so, which lowered your confidence. <<else>>* You chose to shave, and were lucky enough not to get a rash from doing so, which raised your confidence.<</if>> <<elseif $makeup>>* You decided not to shave, but to put on some extra makeup. This raised your presentability in the eyes of the judges, but made you feel less confident overall. <<else>>* You decided to leave your face alone, avoiding the risk of getting a rash or feeling uncomfortable in too much makeup.<</if>> Calming down: <<if $calmDown is "mittens">>* You calmed yourself down by asking Mittens for a pep talk, which helped a lot. <<elseif $calmDown is "judges">>* You looked up the judges on social media before the interview, which made you more nervous.<</if>> Preparation: <<if not $pitch>>* You didn't practice your feminine voice, choosing to focus instead of the content of your interview. This lowered your self-confidence but allowed you to impress the judges a bit more.<</if>> The interview: <<if $talkTrans and $educator>>* Not only did you have to explain your transition and gender identity, you were made to feel like you had to be an educator on the topic. This made you very nervous. <<elseif $talkTrans and (not $educator)>>* You talked about your gender identity and transition a little bit, but avoided going into too much detail. <<elseif not $talkTrans>>* You managed to almost completely avoid the topic of your transition in the interview, which allowed you to focus your energy on actually talking about the job.<</if>>

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Oftentimes, when a person goes through (medical) transition, they are unable to work or study. This means a gap will appear in their resume that they can’t assign to any vocational activity. The only way to explain the gap is by coming out, which many trans people feel uncomfortable doing. ---- <<back "OK">>

Cisgender or Cis is a term used to describe people that are not trans. It is used in the same way as heterosexual is used to mean non-homosexual. A ciswoman refers to a person with a female gender identity and expression, and assigned female at birth as well. ---- 1. <<back "OK">>

The term stealth is used to refer to a person who passes as their desired gender at all times. ---- <<back "OK">>

More info You will notice there are some words that are blue and underlined. By clicking on these words and terms, their definition will pop up in another window. Even without any prior knowledge to the topic of Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, Gender Expression and Sex Characteristics (SOGIESC), you will be able to play HireMe by finding out the meaning of the basic terminology of this topic as you go along. If you want more information on SOGIESC, or if you want to find out what else KliQ Works has to offer in regards to workplace inclusion, go to our <a href="https://www.kliqworks.be">KliqWorks website</a>; or take a look at our academy. The <a href="https://www.kliqacademy.be">KliQ Academy</a> offers tools and e-Learning courses on the topic of LGBTI+ inclusion in the workplace. For a personalized plan or inclusion scan of your organization, <a href="mailto:[email protected]">send us an email</a>. Our employees will be happy to help you on your way to a more inclusive workplace for all. ---- <<back "OK">>

You go to the ‘about us’ section of the website and look for a [[non-discrimination policy]] or guidelines against bullying and harassment. You’re pleasantly surprised to find that the website uses [[gender neutral language]] throughout, there is a message about the recent [[IDAHOT]] visibility action, and you even find a small section on an existing [[LGBTI network]] in the hospital. This makes you feel accepted already! ---- [[OK|next]]

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Gender-neutral language or gender-inclusive language is language that avoids bias towards a particular gender. This includes use of nouns that are not gender-specific to refer to roles or professions, as well as avoidance of the pronouns he, him and his to refer to people of unknown or indeterminate gender. For example, the words policeman and stewardess are gender-specific job titles; the corresponding gender-neutral terms are police officer and flight attendant. ---- <<back "OK">>

The International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia takes place every year on May 17th. It aims to coordinate international events that raise awareness and stimulate interest in LGBTI rights worldwide. ---- <<back "OK">>

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“Clocking” is insider lingo that got its start on the outside. But for those of us in the trans world, the term “clocked” is used to reflect that someone transgender has been recognized as trans, usually when that person is trying to blend in with cisgender people, and not intending to be seen as anything other than the gender they present. ---- <<back "OK">>

<img src="media/sketches/mirror-black.png" height="100%" width="100%"> What does a ‘normal’ cis-woman look like anyway? Doesn’t every woman look completely different to begin with? That ideal of the ‘perfect female specimen’ only exists in shampoo commercials and beauty magazines. You look amazing the way you are, Samira: a broad shouldered, flat chested, confident woman. You got this. [[OK|next]]

Triggers are anything that remind someone of previous trauma. To be triggered is to have an intense emotional or physical reaction, such as a panic attack, after encountering a trigger. Samira is worried the judges will say something to trigger feelings of dysphoria, which would be a blow to her self-confidence and might compromise her interview. ---- <<back "OK">>

What am I getting myself into? HireMe! is an evidence based simulation game that allows a player to experience a different perspective from their own. For 30 minutes, a player is a Parisian trans girl getting ready for – and going to – a job interview. By stepping into Samira's shoes, you experience firsthand what the [[cost of thinking twice]] is, and how applying for a job interview as a trans person adds unexpected extra stress factors. Throughout the game you will see statistics pop up in the sidebar. These statistics are o Confidence level o Presentability o Energy level o Stress level With every decision you make for Samira, you will see these statistics change. Some decisions will give you more stress, others will boost your confidence. What does wearing a pantsuit do to the way you present yourself? Is working on the pitch of your voice beneficial to your confidence level? Or should you rather focus on the content of the job? Do you shave or do you put extra make-up on? And how does this decision effect the way you feel? After you prepare for the interview, you find yourself in front of an inquisitive panel of judges. Your presentability statistic now changes to comfort level. How do you answer their questions? Do you come out to them as trans? How do you explain the gap in your resume? Are you confident enough to ask them about their LGBTI policy? Or do you steer away from all gender-related questions and stay focused on why you’re there – a nursing career. Sidenote: we only included trans related questions to the interview. Keep a close eye on your statistics. They will decide whether you land that job or not ---- <<back "OK">>

Every employee shows aspects of who they are in the workplace. There are hints about people’s personalities and private lives wherever you look, details that in themselves have nothing to do with the job. They might crop up during an informal chat around the coffee machine about a hobby or weekend activity, or they might be sitting on your desk in the form of a family photo. The ability to be open in the workplace is a matter of course for many people. Having to hide who you are or the name of your partner because you’re not sure it’s safe can be extremely isolating. It can have a negative impact on your well-being at work and can even be at the expense of retention, productivity and commitment. The coming-out dilemma, or ‘the cost of thinking twice’, illustrates this clearly. Over the weekend, a lesbian employee celebrated being together with her girlfriend for 10 years. On Monday morning, a co-worker asks what she did on the weekend. The diagram below shows the whole thought process that arises from this question and the negative consequences that such a simple question can have. Imagine having to do this with every social interaction you have at work. This is the cost of thinking twice. <img src="media/cott.jpg"> ---- <<back "OK">>

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