Are We Done Asking Women About Imposter Syndrome?
Apparently not. We keep raising imposter syndrome with women, and worse, telling them they ought to have it.
This week, the CNN journalist Christina Macfarlane asked the World Cup rugby star Ilona Maher how she overcomes her imposter syndrome.
If you don’t know Maher, you should. She’s not only a brilliant athlete who helped Team USA win its first Rugby medal in 100 years at last year’s Summer Olympics, she’s also an outspoken feminist who constantly challenges gender and body norms on social media.
Macfarlane’s question seemed painfully out of touch.
Maher, the 28-year old who's no stranger to public jibes and insults, answered assuredly that she doesn’t have imposter syndrome: “I don’t have that. It’s like when you don’t feel like you deserve it? No, I don’t have that.”
CNN’s Macfarlane looked flabbergasted at her response. “How is that possible?” wondered Macfarlane. “I feel like imposter syndrome ruins my life sometimes.”
