[Cyclic404]

There is so much more to this career than what your peers think of you. There are your clients and project stakeholders. Your supervisors and mentors. Your own feeling of accomplishment and your contribution to society. I can't (or perhaps it's just that I likely won't) experience the perspective from your biological gender, however you have to understand that you don't have to justify or prove yourself, especially not to your peers. The worst thing you can do is squander an opportunity.

I sympathize with the awkwardness, but after you've led a good life, think of the stories to tell the grandkids.