Are You a Woman Struggling With Imposter Syndrome?
Imposter syndrome affects women more than they realize. But, it’s possible to overcome the struggle.
Do you ever feel that your hard work and success are not…yours? That you’re simply where you are because of luck — not actual skills and qualities that make you worthy of praise? Do you fear other people will find out that you’re a fraud and not as competent as they made you out to be?
If any of this sounds familiar, you likely suffer from something known as imposter syndrome. And you’re not alone. Your feelings of self doubt could be impacting your mental health,
What is Imposter Syndrome?
The term “imposter phenomenon” was coined in 1978 by American psychologists, Pauline Clance and Suzanne Imes. Their research focused on high-achieving women in education and the workplace, and how they felt undeserving of their success.
As the name suggests, imposter syndrome makes you feel like a fraud. You constantly feel like a phony and find it hard to own your accomplishments and strengths. Every time something good happens to you, you either pin it on luck or coincidence.
Although imposter syndrome can affect men and other minority groups as well, decades of research has found that it’s concerningly more common among women.
Being a Woman with Imposter Syndrome
Whether you’re a student, stay-at-home mother, or someone starting a new job, being a woman with imposter syndrome comes with its unique challenges. At the core of it all lies the belief that we aren’t good enough, and were never meant to be.
To overcome this challenge, it’s important to first understand how these self-limiting beliefs originate and how they affect us.
What causes imposter syndrome in women?
So, what is it that makes women more vulnerable to imposter syndrome? Here are some factors that can help you begin to answer this question.
Lack of representation
Off the top of your head, if you’re asked to name a famous CEO who’s a woman, who would you name? If this took you more than just a few seconds, and you still don’t have an answer — then that’s your answer.
Women have historically and globally been underrepresented in positions of leadership and authority. Time and again, we’ve had to fight for equal opportunities — a fight that continues to this day.
Because women lack representation, finding themselves in a male-dominated work environment can lead to more harm than empowerment. With no one similar to look up to, many women may feel out of place or like they don’t belong.
As a result, any success, be it in the form of a managerial role or a promotion, may feel undeserved. Women may feel crippled with self-doubt and experience constant fear of being “found out” as incompetent.
Even the most successful women on the planet couldn’t escape the grip of imposter syndrome.
Maureen Zappala, a former propulsion engineer who dedicated 14 years of her life to NASA, had this to say:
“For years I thought NASA only hired me because they needed women. I felt under-qualified and in over my head. I worked long hours to try to prove myself. I was too afraid to ask for help because I thought if I'm really as smart as they think I am, I shouldn't need the help, and I should be able to figure this out on my own.”
Lack of representation is real.
Sexist stereotypes
‘Beauty with brains”. We’ve all heard of this. Why is it so hard to believe that women can either possess one or the other? Sexist stereotypes about women have existed for the longest time. If she’s a leader, she’s too bossy. If she’s not a leader, that’s because she’s unqualified or too emotional. If she’s a mother, she won’t do justice to her job.
Women — some more than others — have been on the receiving end of damaging sexist stereotypes that pressure them to overachieve and strive way too hard to disprove these notions. After all, how else would they be taken seriously?
Imposter syndrome can make women internalize these sexist stereotypes, making them unable to attribute their success to their own hard work.
Being taught that you’ll never be good enough
They say the sky’s the limit, but most women may feel differently. Going right back to where it all starts, most young girls grow up believing that they can only aim for success up to a point. As women, most of us grew up being taught that we can aspire to be great, but not quite good enough.
In professional settings, this is known as the ‘glass ceiling’. Women have to learn to accept that success can’t be attained beyond a certain point. And if that happens, they are unable to feel it, accept it, or fully own it. Held back by the voice that keeps telling them that they won’t ever be good enough for this.
How imposter syndrome affects women
If you’re wondering whether that nagging voice in your head might be true, chances are it’s not. Here are some signs to look out for if you’re suffering from imposter syndrome:
You experience self-doubt
You feel like a fraud despite being qualified
You over-prepare because you don’t want to seem incompetent
You fear you’ll be ‘found out’
You are highly self-critical
You have low self-esteem and feel undeserving of your achievements
You attribute your success to luck or other external factors
Your friendships and relationships are impacted due to these beliefs
Overcoming Imposter Syndrome
The good news is: imposter syndrome doesn’t have to define you forever. Here are some strategies you can use to deal with imposter syndrome and reclaim the voice that tells you you’re worthy of everything you achieve:
Remind yourself of your achievements
Make a list of your accomplishments. Try to find evidence for how you’re less or more qualified than you tell yourself. Own your accomplishments by listing down how you played a role in your own success.
Ask that friend if she feels it too
Chances are, you’re not the only woman who has experienced the self-defeating spiral that comes with imposter syndrome. Ask your friend or colleague if she feels the same way too. It can help to have a supportive environment and not feel like you’re the only one.
Therapy
Sometimes the going can get too tough. This is when it’s important to reach out for professional support and get the help you deserve. The experienced and dedicated clinicians at Reclaim & Rise Counselling are here and ready to help you step into your power overcome imposter syndrome.