Women are awesome. Over the years we have progressed so much and broken through many glass ceilings. Despite limitations, women have contributed so much to society and continue to do so. We still haven’t had a woman president, but there are beginning to be many women in high places. So why is it that so many women still feel like they aren’t good enough or don’t deserve to be in the positions they are in?
Imposter syndrome can be defined as doubting yourself and not feeling like you deserve your accomplishments. It’s especially common among people who are high-achievers, and it is even more common among women. People who experience this phenomenon can feel like they’re not deserving of the praise they get and that they’ve tricked everyone into thinking they are successful. A lot of these feelings can stem from personal experiences or trauma, but for women, imposter syndrome comes as a result of how society treats women–and women of color deal with systemic racism on top of that.
A study done by Heriot-Watt University and the School for CEOs showed that more than 50% of women reported feeling imposter syndrome compared to only 24% of men. This imbalance has many factors, one being the lack of representation of women in the workplace. Being the only one or one of few is a major component to feeling like you don’t belong. The disparity is even more obvious for women of color. “Women of color hold just 4.6% of board seats in the Fortune 500. Yet they represent approximately 18% of the US population.” Paired with stereotypes and historical nuance, it’s not difficult to see why so many women struggle with this. I’m Mexican-American, and growing up I could see and feel how my parents and I, especially my mom, were treated differently. It’s the microaggressions and comments about accents that contribute to the feeling of being seen as less than–but it’s also the stereotypes you hear in school, work and in the media, and the overt comments made by some political figures. When you’re told–directly and indirectly–for so long that you aren’t good enough or that you don’t belong somewhere, it’s extremely hard to break out of that mindset. We may have progressed a lot as a society, but there is still a lot of work to be done.
So how do we fix it? In the past, imposter syndrome and the issue of solving it has been put on the individual. It has been seen as another thing women have to work through in order to become successful or accept their success. While it’s definitely helpful to work through these anxieties, go to therapy and take steps to help yourself, it’s impossible to fix the problem on an individual level when the issue comes from systemic oppression. Without change on a cultural level that supports and uplifts women–all women–there can’t be real progress.
Until then, continue to push for success and top positions. Build connections and continue to fight for your place in the career you want. Don’t let others speak over you and when you can, help uplift other women as well. Above all, trust yourself and your gut and don’t let the doubt bring you down.
Who are some women you admire? Tag us @HerCampusSJSU