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Abstract
This qualitative research study sought women, 40-55 years old, who were leaders in their organizations and examined if they recognized and navigated through feelings of impostor phenomenon. Their work has value and worth, yet the economic systems benefit men and ignore women?s work. We used a post structural feminist theory to conceptualize gender as a system of power and social relations that are continuously renegotiated. By using biographical narratives, the women were able to make sense of and navigate through feelings of impostorship and the patriarchal barriers to their own success, and we shared the data through a poetic narrative form.
The findings acknowledged that systems of power intersect when addressing gender, race, class, sexual orientation and others. While each woman?s culture and background are different, each experienced and expressed unique forms of oppression. Through their stories we then explored ways to best express those experiences and found that poetry provided participants and researchers an opportunity to learn through self-reflection and provided an opportunity for personal discovery.
Biographical research and poetry provided ways to honor to the women?s experiences while also showing the larger ecosystem of communities that can sustain or destroy hope. The result of this study shows that impostor phenomenon is real to these women. They continue the challenge to cope within, to work outside, and to make their voices heard understanding that oppression, cultural backlash, and patriarchy are present and palpable, but that they are not alone.
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References
- Bravata, D. M., Watts, S. A., Keefer, A. L. Madhusudhan, D. K. Tayler, K. T., Clark, D. M., Nelson, R. S. Cokley, K. O. and Hagg, H. K. (2020). Prevalence, Predictors, and Treatment of Impostor Syndrome: a Systematic Review. J Gen Intern Med. 35(4): 1252–1275. doi: 10.1007/s11606-019-05364-1
- Calhoun, A. (2020). Why we can’t sleep: Women’s new midlife crisis. Grove Press
- Connelly, F. M. & Clandinin, D. J. (1990). Stories of experience and narrative inquiry. Educational Researcher, 19(5), 2-14. https://doi.org/10.3102/0013189X019005002
- Cusack, C. E., Hughes, J. L., & Nuhu, N. (2013). Connecting gender and mental health to impostor phenomenon feelings. Psi Chi Journal of Psychological Research, 18(2), 74–81. https://doi.org/10.24839/2164-8204.jn18.2.74
- Erikson, E. H. (1950). Childhood and society. Norton
- Faulkner, S. L. (2009). Poetry as method: Reporting research through verse. Left Coast Press.
- Gibson-Beverly, G., & Schwartz, J. P. (2008). Attachment, entitlement, and the impostor phenomenon in female graduate students. Journal of College Counseling, 11(2), 119–132. https://doi.org/10.1002/j.2161-1882.2008.tb00029.x
- Hanauer, D. (2010). Poetry as research: Exploring second language poetry writing. John Benjamins
- Hooks, B. (2000). Feminism is for everybody: Passionate politics. Pluto Press.
- Kashen, Julie. (2020, October 30). How COVID-19 sent women's workforce progress backward. Retrieved 2020, from https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/women/reports/2020/10/30/492582/covid-19-sent-womens-workforce-progress-backward/
- Langford, J., & Clance, P. R. (1993). The imposter phenomenon: Recent research findings regarding dynamics, personality and family patterns and their implications for treatment. Psychotherapy: Theory, Research, Practice, Training, 30(3), 495–501. https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-3204.30.3.495
- Mansfield, K.& In Murry, J. M. (1922/1954). The journal of Katherine Mansfield. Constable & Co.
- Newton, N. & Stewart A. J. (2010) The Middle Ages: Change in Women's Personalities and Social Roles. Psychology of Women Quarterly. 34(1): 75-84 https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1471-6402.2009.01543.x
- Owen, J. E. (2020). We are the leaders we've been waiting for: Women and leadership development in college. Sterling, VA: Stylus.
- Regine, B. (2010). Iron butterflies: Women transforming themselves and the world. Prometheus Books
- Reynolds, M. (2010). Wander woman: How high-achieving women find contentment and direction. Berrett-Kohler Publishers, Inc.
- Waring, M. (1988). If women counted: A new feminist economics. Harper & Row
- Waring, M. (2018). Still counting: Wellbeing, women’s work and policy-making (BWB Text Book 73). Bridget Williams Books
- Weber, L., & Fuhrmans, V. (2020, September 30). How the coronavirus crisis threatens to set back women's careers. Retrieved from https://www.wsj.com/articles/how-the-coronavirus-crisis-threatens-to-set-back-womens-careers-11601438460
References
Bravata, D. M., Watts, S. A., Keefer, A. L. Madhusudhan, D. K. Tayler, K. T., Clark, D. M., Nelson, R. S. Cokley, K. O. and Hagg, H. K. (2020). Prevalence, Predictors, and Treatment of Impostor Syndrome: a Systematic Review. J Gen Intern Med. 35(4): 1252–1275. doi: 10.1007/s11606-019-05364-1
Calhoun, A. (2020). Why we can’t sleep: Women’s new midlife crisis. Grove Press
Connelly, F. M. & Clandinin, D. J. (1990). Stories of experience and narrative inquiry. Educational Researcher, 19(5), 2-14. https://doi.org/10.3102/0013189X019005002
Cusack, C. E., Hughes, J. L., & Nuhu, N. (2013). Connecting gender and mental health to impostor phenomenon feelings. Psi Chi Journal of Psychological Research, 18(2), 74–81. https://doi.org/10.24839/2164-8204.jn18.2.74
Erikson, E. H. (1950). Childhood and society. Norton
Faulkner, S. L. (2009). Poetry as method: Reporting research through verse. Left Coast Press.
Gibson-Beverly, G., & Schwartz, J. P. (2008). Attachment, entitlement, and the impostor phenomenon in female graduate students. Journal of College Counseling, 11(2), 119–132. https://doi.org/10.1002/j.2161-1882.2008.tb00029.x
Hanauer, D. (2010). Poetry as research: Exploring second language poetry writing. John Benjamins
Hooks, B. (2000). Feminism is for everybody: Passionate politics. Pluto Press.
Kashen, Julie. (2020, October 30). How COVID-19 sent women's workforce progress backward. Retrieved 2020, from https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/women/reports/2020/10/30/492582/covid-19-sent-womens-workforce-progress-backward/
Langford, J., & Clance, P. R. (1993). The imposter phenomenon: Recent research findings regarding dynamics, personality and family patterns and their implications for treatment. Psychotherapy: Theory, Research, Practice, Training, 30(3), 495–501. https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-3204.30.3.495
Mansfield, K.& In Murry, J. M. (1922/1954). The journal of Katherine Mansfield. Constable & Co.
Newton, N. & Stewart A. J. (2010) The Middle Ages: Change in Women's Personalities and Social Roles. Psychology of Women Quarterly. 34(1): 75-84 https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1471-6402.2009.01543.x
Owen, J. E. (2020). We are the leaders we've been waiting for: Women and leadership development in college. Sterling, VA: Stylus.
Regine, B. (2010). Iron butterflies: Women transforming themselves and the world. Prometheus Books
Reynolds, M. (2010). Wander woman: How high-achieving women find contentment and direction. Berrett-Kohler Publishers, Inc.
Waring, M. (1988). If women counted: A new feminist economics. Harper & Row
Waring, M. (2018). Still counting: Wellbeing, women’s work and policy-making (BWB Text Book 73). Bridget Williams Books
Weber, L., & Fuhrmans, V. (2020, September 30). How the coronavirus crisis threatens to set back women's careers. Retrieved from https://www.wsj.com/articles/how-the-coronavirus-crisis-threatens-to-set-back-womens-careers-11601438460