How BIPOC and Queer nonprofit leaders can stop trying to overcome imposter syndrome

As Marginalized nonprofit leaders, we already know that there are systemic and institutional barriers that we're up against (I'm looking at you White Supremacy culture and anti-Black racism).

What many do not fully understand is the ways in which we cope with this systemic oppression, which brings us to imposter syndrome.

What if the self doubt that you're feeling isn't about you being an imposter?

In my experience, it's not that you don't belong in certain spaces or that you were hired incorrectly,

But maybe the self doubt that you're feeling is really coming from a different monster, something called internalized oppression.

Internalized oppression is what happens when you live in an oppressive culture (like the one that we're in), but as a Marginalized person, you start to let that get inside you.

It really starts to control and influence how you think about yourself and others.

Unfortunately, one of the ways to deal with systemic oppression is to internalize it.

That is to say, that because the negative external messages are so big and constant that we in turn start to believe these ideas as Truth with a capital T. Once we believe these ideas as truth, we allow them to dictate our self-understanding, self-worth and self-efficacy.

Let's bring in a real life example of this:

Let's say, you are looking around the room as a Queer person, and you can't see anyone who's visibly Queer like you.

Eventually you start to think "Maybe I shouldn't be here".

I would say we have this thought because we have this system of anti-Queerness that really makes it hard for Queer folks like us to access certain spaces.

It's not because we are incompetent or that we're not as competent as straight folks, but it's an ACCESS problem in the spaces we're in.

Here's another example:

Let's say you are a Black woman who hesitates to speak in all white spaces.

Eventually you start to think "No one is going to listen to what I have to say".

I would say we have this thought because we have this system of anti-Blackness that stereotypes Black women as aggressive instead of acknowledging our perspectives as valid.

It's not because we aren't as eloquent or as capable as White folks, but there's a VALUES problem in the spaces we're in.

I hope these two examples can help you see how we come to learn that the imposter syndrome and self-doubt we experienced as Marginalized leaders is not an individual problem, it's a systemic problem (as internalized oppression suggestions).

I believe that our work is to unlearn the ways that this self doubt was planted inside of us as Marginalized people so that we can stop acting from that place. 

Some of us have no idea that it's possible to unlearn and resist oppressive, harmful beliefs and practices in order to build a more authentic and self-trusting leadership.

THIS IS HOW I CAN SUPPORT YOU...

My name is Petra Vega and I support BIPOC and Queer nonprofit leaders who want to speak up during crucial moments and meetings, without self-doubt dictating their worth, expertise or efforts.

As a Liberatory Leadership Coach, Emergent Strategist, Social Justice Facilitator, and Radical Social Worker, Petra weaves an anti-oppression lens, healing tools and playful possibility into WHO and HOW we lead.

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