ABSTRACT
Patients commonly assume that a change of social gender role will require a change of occupation, particularly if their occupation is stereotypical of their birth sex. A common problem is how to inform employers and colleagues of an intention to change gender role. People with disorders of gender identity who display a talent with computers seem often to gravitate into teaching others how to work or repair computers. Occupation is important because it is a good and verifiable test of whether the patient can manage on a day-to-day basis in their acquired gender role. The reaction of children to a parent's change of gender role depends upon the ages of the child and the parent, and the quality of the relationship that existed between them prior to a change of gender role. The wider family may have knowledge of a patient's change of gender role withheld from them by closer family members.
