“I Am My Own Worst Critic": Black Doctoral Women’s Experiences of Imposter Phenomenon

• In Event: Creating Inclusive Doctoral Programs: Best Practices and Innovations in Doctoral Student Socialization

Abstract

Many Black women doctoral students struggle with the dysfunctions of the academy and grapple with naming their experiences and the resulting emotions. Despite their challenge in doing so, their experiences can and have been named as imposter phenomenon. In this study, we interviewed 82 Black doctoral women to understand their experiences of imposter phenomenon in the academy and to identify the influences of their imposter phenomenon experiences. Imposter phenomenon showed up as internalized oppression including self-doubt, overcompensating, and constant comparison. The negative interactions with others, including experiences of racism, highlighted the ways that Black women are unsafe in the academy and point to the ways that imposter phenomenon can influence Black women’s socialization experiences.

Authors

• Tamara Bertrand Jones, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

• Gabrielle Haggins, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign

• Jessica D. Griffin, Florida State University

• Tonisha B. Lane, Virginia Tech

• Nijay Hardaway, Florida State University