Stop telling marginalized people they have imposter syndrome.
Let’s stop telling marginalized people they have imposter syndrome. Hear me out - when I first learned the phrase “imposter syndrome,” it was helpful to know I’m not alone. Self-doubt is real, and I’m pretty sure everyone experiences it at one point or another (if you have no idea what I’m talking about, I want to meet you!).
More often than not, if you’re a woman or nonbinary individual, a person of color, or otherwise have a marginalized identity, your self-doubt isn’t a personal problem. The phrase “imposter syndrome” makes it seem like there’s something wrong inside of YOU, but you also face the EXTERNAL factors that drive out and hold back marginalized people, like systemic sexism, racism, homophobia, and transphobia.
Let’s reframe this: self-doubt can be a superpower when second-guessing leads to double checking your work and when you’re used to working harder and longer than your privileged peers. Prove your worth to yourself by documenting and celebrating your wins, and when the imposter syndrome creeps in anyways, ask yourself: am I doubting myself, or am I doubting how I’ll be received by those who wish to oppress me?
If you’re struggling with self-doubt, let me show you just how much you’ve got this.
If you’re new here, I’m Shannon Parris, an equity-first management consultant, or as my clients think of me, a trusted, outsourced business partner. I help under-resourced entrepreneurs and nonprofit professionals activate their strategies, optimize their operations, measure and maximize their impact, and foster equitable environments so they can boost their capacity, resolve complex issues, and do the hard work of changing the world.
I plan to use this space to write about my experiences, hopefully in ways that will offer value to my readers. It’s not in my nature to try to sell things. I’m a nonprofit nerd; I just want to help. But what I’m learning about being self-employed is that I get to make choices about how to prioritize my values; I get to do what I want. So this blog may not follow the rules or best practices, but I hope that it does help someone. If there’s a topic you’d like to me to write about, please do let me know.
