To find this insulting to women

[groogrump]

Name changed as I am a regular poster but wish to remain anonymous.
I have just qualified in the legal profession. I was scrolling Instagram and saw this post from an organisation that promotes diversity in law. Am I unreasonable to find this considerably insulting?! Whilst I'm sure there are some women who suffer with imposter syndrome the vast majority suffer with obstacles not made by them! To say otherwise is insulting, naive and victim blaming. The message has also been seemingly sponsored by a magic circle solicitors firm. I'm so annoyed as someone who tries to promote diversity in law myself to see something so ignorant.

Ynbu OP. It's unbelievably patronising. Also, to be patronising in return, I'm pretty sure that's an incorrect use of the word 'yourself'

@Kudupoo

But imposter syndrome is about our own conviction and confidence in a role - when you’re hired into it, and everyone else thinks you’re up for it, but you are the one questioning it - so I can see how that quote is relevant

I don't think that's always true. Some colleagues and others might doubt your ability or competence or be rude, and express that, and rather than thinking they're an arrogant arsehole or standing up for ourselves we take it to heart and doubt our ability.

I don't think imposter syndrome happens in a world where everyone is decent and has confidence in women and women just think negatively.

What you're describing is not imposter syndrome.

You’re being totally unreasonable. It’s about imposter syndrome and womens lack of confidence being one thing (but only one of many) that can hold them back.

^The quote says "many aspiring female....".
It does not say "all", so you don't need to feel resentful about it.^

At least PP didn't say I can't identify because I lack aspirations...

@TheOrigRights

It's part of it. Feeling like you have no right to be where you are, like someone made a huge mistake somewhere and everyone else is more competent than you. It means you can get a sort of confirmation bias from interactions.

If you didn't have imposter syndrome you might see things differently, if you do it can colour your view and fees into it.

My point was it's not like everyone around you is wonderful and you stubbornly refuse to believe in yourself. It's much more embedded and can be worsened by the environment you're in/obstacles you face.

Everyone saying they’re just highlighting something that happens to some women….. did you read the language they used? “MANY women” “barriers are OFTEN internal”.

I also think imposter syndrome couched as a women’s issue is patronising - imposter syndrome is meant to be something everyone experiences, people imagining they’re not good enough when they are - it’s not an experience particular to women.

By making it a women’s thing it gives the impression that they are brushing off women’s experience of structural inequality in the workplace and the impact of that as “imposter syndrome”.

If they’re talking about lack of confidence in women, that’s not “imposter syndrome” - that’s an issue that has roots in sexism! Which aren’t in a woman’s head (like imposter syndrome is) but are actually real things that need addressing!

It should have read “many people experience imposter syndrome, sometimes barriers are internal as well as external” - keep the women part out of it.

If they were talking about women’s lack of confidence it should have said “SOME women have a lack of confidence and feel like they don’t deserve a place at the table. This is because of external forces and messaging that they’ve experienced from birth. This is something that needs to be overcome through improved systems and culture as well as women themselves pushing past these feelings to break the glass ceiling, insist on a workplace that recognises their experience and value, and support other women to do so too.” - I admit this is less catchy for a social post though

I agree with you OP. An article was shared at work earlier this week which spoke about how imposter syndrome is used an excuse by done employers as an excuse for just not doing enough for women’s development. I think it was as part of a new book written by a female duo and was in the Financial Times.

It may not impact all but as a female solicitor I suffer from this. It was identified by my male boss about 17 years ago. He said you speak so much more sense than that over-confident Michael why do you let him do all the talking af meetings. He was right and I'm glad he told me although ots taken until middle age to really get to grips with.

It's like 'wellness' grift - all your problems are of your own creation, shop your way out of your misery, sip a green tea and do a yoga... and somehow structural inequality will magically vanish.

I find that pretty insulting, sounds a bit like victim blaming.

Its your own fault. You're doing to it to yourself.

It's annoying its singling out women, although it says not all women, but most would miss that bit and assume all women feel the same.

The fact that there's such diversity of opinion about what IS is, who suffers from it, or why it happens -- tells me that it's not a very useful concept. Bordering on being useless if no one can agree what it is.

Can we go go back to saying "I feel inadequate" or "unworthy" ?

One does not negate the other. Women frequently face barriers put in their way by others, but can simultaneously suffer from imposter syndrome.