10/18/2021
"The impact of systemic racism, classism, xenophobia, and other biases was categorically absent when the concept of imposter syndrome was developed. Many groups were excluded from the study, namely women of color and people of various income levels, genders, and professional backgrounds. Even as we know it today, imposter syndrome puts the blame on individuals, without accounting for the historical and cultural contexts that are foundational to how it manifests in both women of color and white women. Imposter syndrome directs our view toward fixing women at work instead of fixing the places where women work." - (Excerpt from "Stop Telling Women They Have Imposter Syndrome." written by Ruchika Tulshyan and Jodi-Ann Burey of Harvard Business Review in February 2021.)
Many of us don't fully understand the history behind the concept of "imposter syndrome." This is why I always put "imposter syndrome" in quotation marks... because what if it's NOT "imposter syndrome"? What if a professional is actually experiencing racism, sexism, or something else that's attributed to the workplace environment and/or dynamics with colleagues? I highly recommend giving this article a read (link in my bio). Once you're done, let me know what you think in the comments section below!
