Imposter syndrome: the persistent inability to believe one's success is deserved or has been legitimately achieved as a result of one's own efforts or skills, Oxford English Dictionary

Cultural capital: A term introduced by Pierre Bourdieu to refer to the symbols, ideas, tastes, and preferences that can be strategically used as resources in social action, Oxford Dictionary of Sociology 

Often cultural capital and imposter syndrome are linked. When we think about cultural capital, we can think of how we grew up, the symbols, ideas, tastes, and preferences we inherit from our social sphere influence what we know, what we have access to, and how we perceive the world and ourselves in it. Suppose we are the first in our family to go to college or are at a college where we are in a minoritized racial, ethnic, or gender group, or we come from a lower socioeconomic background. In that case, we might feel like we don't have the same cultural capital as our peers and it can lead to us feeling like an outsider or that we don't belong. These feelings of outsiderness can lead to imposter syndrome.

We should reframe how we understand cultural capital and imposter syndrome. What is deemed as cultural capital is often framed through a white, middle to upper-class lens. What are we saying about our own and other's cultural capital that doesn't derive from a white and middle to upper class? That other cultural capital has no value?

When we think about imposter syndrome, it is often framed about how individuals feel, rather than how spaces and institutions were historically designed to make people in non-white, non-middle, and upper-class groups feel. We are referring to spaces historically exclusionary to particular racial, ethnic, gender, and socioeconomic groups. Instead of feeling like you don't belong or that you don't have the right cultural capital to succeed, you should consider the readings below to reframe how you think about these two concepts.

"Whose Culture Has Capital? A Critical Race Theory Discussion of Community Cultural Wealth", Tara J. Yosso, Critical Race Theory in Education

"Imposter Syndrome: The Structural Barriers Present in Higher Education", Zaharaa Altwaij, Health Outreach Partners

"It's Time to Reconceptualize What 'Imposter Syndrome' Means for People of Color", Kevin Cokley, Harvard Business Review

"Social Capital in Black Communities is Often Overlooked", Nancy Averett, Scientific American

Even on a smaller campus, it can be hard to find social outlets and activities. Luckily, there are A LOT of fun things to do in and around UPS! Consider looking at some of the Student Life resources on the UPS website. Participating in a club or going to an event is a great way to meet new people, find friends, and build lifelong relationships with your peers!

You can find these and other titles in the Life Skills collection in the library