{"id":266,"date":"2014-02-03T13:19:46","date_gmt":"2014-02-03T13:19:46","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/thesocietypages.org\/sociologysource\/2014\/02\/03\/i-may-be-an-impostor-but\/"},"modified":"2015-08-25T17:16:47","modified_gmt":"2015-08-25T17:16:47","slug":"i-may-be-an-impostor-but","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thesocietypages.org\/sociologysource\/2014\/02\/03\/i-may-be-an-impostor-but\/","title":{"rendered":"I May Be an Impostor, but…"},"content":{"rendered":"

Last week Sociological Images featured<\/a> a post of mine from last year<\/a> on how the language we use often hides privilege. Inspired by Michael Kimmel<\/a> I flipped the oft quoted figure that \u201cwomen make 81 cents to every $1 a man earns\u201d to \u201cMen have consistently been paid more than their female peers, earning about $1.19 to every $1 of a woman\u2019s wage\u201d. Turns out, I did the math wrong.<\/p>\n

As I read the comments under the post, my heart fell on to the floor. I was exposed. There it was in black and white, I\u2019m an impostor. I\u2019m a huckster. I\u2019m a fraud.<\/p>\n

A cacophony of self-loathing voices rattled my head. \u201cWho are you to tell other people how to teach their classes?\u201d \u201cYour pathetic excuse for scholarship has made your friend look bad on her blog because she foolishly trusted you.\u201d \u201cSee I told you this would happen. You need to be quiet and let the real academics handle this. You\u2019re just a lecturer.\u201d<\/p>\n

To some readers this might seem like an extreme overreaction, but to many others it won\u2019t. Everyday of my career I have carried with me these voices of self-doubt and I\u2019m willing to bet that if you are truly in touch with your emotions, you have too. And I\u2019m a white, heterosexual, able-bodied, citizen, [I could go on] male. I\u2019m supposed to be the embodiment of authority, but even with all of my privilege I can\u2019t ever feel comfortable. <\/p>\n

<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

I am not alone. I know that you feel this way too. Because of my impostor syndrome I\u2019ve ducked opportunities; I\u2019ve deliberately held myself back. I\u2019ve held my tongue (believe it or not).<\/p>\n

Why I\u2019m Writing This & Why Aren\u2019t You Writing Online?<\/h3>\n

Why aren\u2019t more sociologists\/academics blogging? At the very least, why aren\u2019t more applied sociologists or social activist sociologists blogging? There is a giant platform to share you research, reach the people who could create social change, and\/or engage with other researchers in your field. But yet, almost no one does it. Why? <\/p>\n

I think the fear of being exposed as an impostor is a big reason more sociologists and academics in general don\u2019t share their ideas and research online. Online there is no journal to bestow their authority to your words. There are no fact-checkers and\/or peer reviewers. It\u2019s just you, walking the tightrope without a net.[1]<\/a><\/p>\n

I am writing this today because I want you to tell the voices in your head that are constantly catastrophizing \u2026 you don\u2019t die. Humble pie tastes awful, but it\u2019s a tiny price for me to pay for all of the wonderful people I\u2019ve met and the opportunities that\u2019ve come my way because I started blogging. There is a portion of the world waiting to hear about your research, your teaching, and your perspective on the world. Take the risk. Start the conversation. It will be worth it.<\/p>\n

Further Reading:<\/strong><\/p>\n