Epistemology and impostor syndrome
And we all have nonfalsifiable beliefs that undergird our behaviors. We all make assumptions to get through the day. Maybe you believe that men and women should have equal opportunities in the workplace, or that sunrises are beautiful, or that all humans should behave compassionately, or that God does, or does not, exist. Too many women refuse to add “I am a success” and “I deserve to be here” to their list of beliefs. If your excuse is that you can’t believe it because it’s not objectively provable, well, neither is “I am a failure” or “I don’t deserve this awesomeness” — let’s do some social construction to fit our blueprints for once.
What would I be like, if I were successful and deserved it? Well, I’ll try to act like that, then.
Other useful resources on Impostor Syndrome include Valerie Young’s Overcoming the Impostor Syndrome blog and Anna Fels’s great book Necessary Dreams: Ambition in Women’s Changing Lives.
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Asad:
August 23rd, 2009 at 12:02 pm
I’m not sure that definition of Impostor Syndrome makes sense, because
a) chances are you (generic “you,” including me) really are where you are mostly because of a cosmic accident/Providence
b) there probably really are people who are much smarter than you
and
c) there probably really are people who are successfuller than you
so having such a sense is quite justified for 99.9% of the human race.
I think the right way to think about it is that if *you* are an impostor, then by the same measure, so are the vast majority of people who’ve received even a modicum of similar success. Including the really confident people. Actually, especially the really confident people.
Liz:
August 23rd, 2009 at 1:13 pm
So, Impostermology? 8-)
I find that it is not really a once and for all “getting over it” but a continual struggle.
spz:
August 24th, 2009 at 1:40 pm
I have to agree. The way I see it “I’m only cooking with water”.
But at least I use a pot. And water.
Whereas all too many others don’t even manage -that- (and still get paid for their efforts). :7
Attie:
August 24th, 2009 at 3:29 pm
OH GOD IT’S NOT JUST ME!
Sorry, having a random moment of self-revelation here. (While procrastinating from writing a paper because clearly, all my results are worthless and my work is absolutely ridiculously little for the time I spent on it.)
Bene:
August 24th, 2009 at 9:37 pm
Oh, I agree entirely. So many things are ‘anybody could do that, I’m not that great’.
This is a terribly useful post, actually; I’m glad the phenomenon’s been noticed.
Marisa:
August 24th, 2009 at 10:31 pm
Seemingly absent here is the time factor. “I haven’t put enough time in at this job to be respected.” or “I don’t have enough job experiences in my past to be worthy of this job… it must be a fluke.” It seems to me that ‘men’ are more likely to accept getting a position based on flukes or friends, and ‘women’ are much more focused on getting the acknowledgement “for the right reasons.”
Mackenzie:
August 25th, 2009 at 10:26 am
hehe Yeah that sounds like me. “I’ve only been using Linux for 3 years. These other people have used Linux for 7-10 years and UNIX for 5 years before THAT! They’re all gonna think I’m a newb.”