Why you’re avoiding theory (and what to do about it)
You’re holding back on publishing your best ideas because theory feels scary to you. That’s the truth I’ve learned from clients, writing groups, and, if I’m honest, my own experience in academia. It’s the part of academic writing that feels like walking into an intellectual brawl with a blindfold on.
The issue is that, from my perspective, so many women I work with (and some men, too) avoid theory because it feels too risky. What if I get it wrong? What if someone tears my argument apart? What if I miss something obvious, and they LAUGH at me?
I get it! Everyone’s seen those academics who treat theory like an exciting debate, diving in and sparring without hesitation. But I’ve also seen—and personally experienced—how people can get publicly shredded for putting their ideas out there (I have only ever seen this done to young women, by the way). No wonder we avoid it!
The problem? By dodging theory, we’re also dodging the chance to create bolder, more impactful work and, for want of a less cheesy phrase, “finding our voice”.
When you learn how to stop tying your self-worth to your ideas, or yourself to your work, you begin to liberate yourself from this fear. Being wrong stops being the end of the world. When you treat criticism as feedback (not a personal attack), you start to play more, second-guess yourself less, and enjoy the process so much more.
I recognised this in myself around 5 years ago. All of the theoretical ideas I’d engaged with back in the PhD were being left in the drawer, and I was working on “safer” papers with clear results and lots and lots of data.
Since then, I’ve made the conscious decision to stake my claim on something theoretical, even though I wasn’t sure I’d covered every base, It felt scary at first, but as a result, I felt more confident, more curious, and, most importantly, a whole lot freer.
It wasn’t about “getting it right”—it was about being willing to engage and learn. And as my wise PhD supervisor used to say, “If someone spends their entire weekend trying to prove you wrong, you know you’re on the right track.”
When you let go of the fear of being wrong, your work becomes braver, your writing flows and your ideas carry more weight. You stop holding yourself back and start producing the kind of scholarship that makes a real impact. The bonus is that you have a lot more fun doing it.
