The Science of Women & Self-Sabotage - Looking through the Lens of Epigenetics
Written by Marly DiFruscio
You’ve all heard it before. The inner voice, the saboteur, telling you “You don’t deserve this position, you don’t have enough experience”, “You’re not cut out for this promotion”, “You’re not [insert any self-sabotaging moment here]”. It’s a complex and difficult phenomenon that leaders struggle with no matter where they are in their career or their lives. It affects individuals across all spectrums, and yet it appears to manifest in distinct ways more so in those that are female-identifying. From undermining career opportunities to affecting personal relationships, the ability to “self-sabotage” often leaves leaders confused about the cause or why it happens to them, even with resilience practices or active work against it. Psychological and societal factors have been extensively explored and provide some insight into self-sabotage and women. However, the emerging field of epigenetics offers another perspective that sheds light into how our environment and experiences can influence our behavior, including self-sabotage.
Epigenetics explores how external factors such as lifestyle, stress, experiences, and environmental exposures can influence gene expression. These changes can result in changes to cellular behavior and function, impacting various aspects of an individual's health and behavior. You’ve likely heard the Nature vs Nurture argument before -- epigenetics takes this debate and ends it. It showcases that it is nearly always both nature and nurture that affect the expression of our genetics.
Epigenetic changes can be influenced by life experiences, including childhood traumas, parental upbringing, and socio-exonmic status. Research suggests that adverse experiences (even small ones; never underestimate the power the body has on determining what is considered stress or trauma) can lead to lasting epigenetic changes. In the case of women, societal expectations, gender identity/sex stereotypes, and cultural norms can further exacerbate these effects, shaping their perception of self-worth and capabilities.
Self-sabotage or the inner saboteur is the inner voice you have whose sole purpose is to disempower you and stop you from living your best life. It often arises as a maladaptive coping mechanism in response to stress or from lived experiences. Epigenetic studies have identified specific genes and pathways associated with stress responses and emotional regulation, highlighting how epigenetic alterations can influence a person’s ability to cope with challenging situations. Given how women statistically experience higher average stress levels, it stands to reason that this can also influence an increase in self-sabotaging. Women are often subjected to unique societal pressures and expectations and these socio-cultural influences can contribute to epigenetic changes that predispose women to self-sabotage.
While the link between epigenetics and self-sabotage can offer additional valuable insights into its underlying causes, it is essential to recognize that epigenetic changes are not fixed and irreversible. Interventions such as therapy, lifestyle changes, mindfulness practices, and executive coaching can help mitigate these adverse experiences, promote positive epigenetic adaptations, and actively fight against the tendency to self-sabotage. By acknowledging the role of epigenetics in predisposing individuals to self-sabotaging tendencies, we can adopt a more compassionate and nuanced approach to addressing these challenges, both at the individual and societal levels. Empowering women with the tools to challenge these limiting beliefs and build resilience is key to unlocking their full potential -- and this goes beyond just women! It also allows us to foster an overall culture of resilience and empowerment.