Week 3 Anneka Christie A02

"Since the day I was accepted into graduate school, I have been constantly questioning my belonging even until this day." 

This quote from "Navigating Graduate Education as a First-generation, Hmong American Woman: An Autoethnography" really shook me. The imposter syndrome has been a reoccurring phrase in several of our class readings and it really is a terrifying part of life for so many Asian Americans. It may continue to fester within each individual but it was started by external factors: family, racism, society, and so on. It is a terrible feeling of being unworthy and comes from self-doubt but it also comes from the complex life as an individual identified by their race before their character. It is a feeling fed by the lack of understanding of how one's own identity is impacted by so many factors, the concept of intersectionality. It really is a shame that the author, Manee Moua, like so many others in her position, felt that her hard work and dedication wasn't enough to earn her position in her graduate program. There are so many external pressures that members of the "model minority" face. Like Moua said, "This model minority stereotype is positive for those who can fit the markers of success.  However, it is negative for those who cannot meet the expectations of the model minority, which adds unrealistic expectations for those who cannot perform successfully." I liked how she recognized how this stereotype does benefit some but only a select few but it does more harm than good. Moua seemed to have a good understanding of the many factors that affected her and many like her and was willing to acknowledge the multiple impacts the factors have, good and bad.

Question: I do want to explore the imposter syndrome more in depth. Where did it come from? How did it come about? Why is it such a common theme for so many young Asian Americans especially in academia? How can it be avoided/eradicated?

References: 

Liu, Lanny (2006). "Conversation with Mom About Career." Retrieved from: 

http://www.wokeasians.com/single-asian-female-conversation-with-mom-about-career/ 

Moua, M. (2018). Navigating Graduate Education as a First-generation, Hmong American Woman: An Autoethnography. Hmong Studies Journal, Volume 25. Retrieved from: http://hmongstudies.org/MouaHSJ19.pdf