| This study explored feelings of fraudulence, or “the impostor phenomenon,” in the early professional lives of women. The impostor phenomenon has been described as a sense of intellectual inauthenticity experienced by many individuals, particularly high-achieving women. Despite outstanding accomplishments, a woman may doubt that her success is real, and fear being exposed as a fake or a fraud. Past research has mainly conceptualized feelings of fraudulence as distressing and debilitating, at times minimizing the complexity of the experience. This study sought to broaden and deepen our understanding of the phenomenon.; Thirteen professional women from the fields of education, law, medicine, and psychology were interviewed for this study. Findings reveal that the onset of feelings of fraudulence occurred most often during the transition from childhood to adolescence, usually within the academic realm. The developmental progression of the feelings was non-linear. Women's awareness that the feeling was only a feeling was a powerful source of comfort, yet their feelings were heightened as they gained more professional responsibility and more seemed at stake. Negative implications in the workplace included emotional distress, feeling silenced, and discomfort interacting with colleagues. On the contrary, women noted positive implications, such as increased motivation, thoughtfulness, conscientious and humility in their work. Regarding the role of supervisors and mentors, participants emphasized the importance of normalizing the experience and providing positive feedback.; The significance of claiming relational skills as important professional competencies is discussed. A model is presented in which feelings of fraudulence can encompass growth-promoting elements including an appreciation of the complexity of knowledge and authority, and a refusal to adopt the traditional notions of hierarchy and power in the workplace. Directions for future research are proposed. |
