The Culture of Genius and Women Impostors in Academia
Underrepresentation and discrimination of women in Academia.
As a woman who has “made it” into Academia, by surmounting both the gender and origin barriers, I believe I have to step out of the “safe” silence that neglect the voice of many women in Academia.
The gender gap is still a prominent issue in Academia, especially in STEM. Women, despite universities and government policies against discrimination, remain vastly under-represented in the ivory.
Women, compared to male peers, earn less, take longer to get tenure, occupy fewer top tier positions, receive fewer grants and scholarships, just to name a few.
On top of all that, women in Academia are expected to work harder, produce more research, participate in multiple projects, take on more service and teaching hours, nurture their students, listen and show compassion for their colleagues, and outperform male academics, to just maybe get equal chances and treatment.
This constant (unequal) pressure women academics have to cope with it’s exhausting. This (un)justified quest for fair recognition of their work is probably one of the main causes for the impostor syndrome, and consequently burnout and depression.
