Transgender teacher asked if her breasts were real at interviews
When Hiranmay Dey underwent a sex-reassignment surgery (SRS) in 2017 to become Suchitra Dey, she felt she may have just won her life's biggest battle. But what came her way made her think otherwise. A teacher by profession, Dey was humiliated at job interviews. Once she was asked if her breasts were real and another time she was told to dress like a man.
Despite degrees and experience, Dey couldn't find a job
Dey has a double MA in Geography and English and 10 years of teaching experience. When she decided to explore opportunities, she was humiliated. "One of the interviewers at a well-known Kolkata school asked me to wear male outfits because all my mark sheets and certificates say that I am a man," Dey told Indian Express. She said they didn't care about her experience.
Was asked if I could bear a child, says Dey
"The male principal of one of these schools asked me whether I can bear a child. He also asked me if my breasts are real. Would these questions be asked if I wasn't a transgender woman?" she said.
Rejected by schools, Dey continues teaching at her old school
Dey continues teaching at Kolkata's Thakurpukur area school to students from Classes 5 to 10. She has been associated with the institution for long. "The management was happy to let me rejoin after the surgery and I finally started leading my life as a woman," she said. On June 11, Dey shot a letter to West Bengal Human Rights Commission (WBHRC) highlighting her plight.
In response to Dey's letter, here's what WBHRC said
"All our petitions are placed before the commission, which passes an order. Later, if an inquiry is required, we will follow the necessary process and letter will be sent back to the complainant about the course of action," said WBHRC assistant secretary Nirmal Chandra Sarkar.
Apparently, what law states is miles away from what's implemented
In 2014, the Supreme Court recognized transgender as 'third gender' allowing them to pursue studies and apply for jobs. But in reality, there hasn't been much change and Dey's story proves that. "It seems like the Supreme Court order means nothing. Unless the government makes sure institutions are sensitized, the fight for respect will never end," a transgender activist from Kolkata said.
