STOLEN AUTHENTICITY: THE IMPOSTOR SYNDROME AS A SOCIAL SYMPTOM OF PATRIARCHY

Abstract

This study examines the relationship between gender roles and the manifestation of Impostor Syndrome in women from diverse social and academic contexts. It is grounded on the hypothesis that this phenomenon should not be understood merely as an individual experience of insecurity or low self-esteem but rather as the result of historical, cultural, and social constructions that, over time, have shaped femininity into patterns of subordination, silencing, and invisibility. The theoretical framework engages with authors who critically analyze contemporary subjectivity. Bauman (2001) discusses the fragility and fluidity of identities in liquid modernity. Dardot and Laval (2016) explore the impacts of neoliberalism on psychological suffering and the pressure for individual performance, while Debord (1979) highlights the centrality of appearances and the logic of spectacularization in social relations. In addition, the study incorporates contributions from Caminha, Almeida, and Silva (2025), who investigate the cultural and psychological roots of female authenticity, and Caminha and Silva (2025), who propose the decolonization of the feminine as a path to reclaiming women’s creative and authentic potential. The methodology combines a critical theoretical review with qualitative observation of 121 women from different social classes. Data collection occurred through women’s circles, understood here as ancestral practices of sharing, belonging, and subjective transformation. The results suggest that Impostor Syndrome is not merely a psychological phenomenon but a cultural and collective manifestation. This research aims to expand interdisciplinary debate and inspire new investigations in gender and social psychology, emphasizing the importance of collective practices in fostering resistance and reconstructing authentic female identities.