Let’s face it, it’s easy to blast Beyoncé at the highest decibel level your speakers reach, belting the lyrics “Who run the world?” and feeling like an invincible girl boss. But this fleeting confidence can often disappear as quickly as the music fades into silence. Reality then hits, sometimes bringing with it feelings of crippling self-doubt or feeling like an imposter in your own life. Harvard Business Review identifies this phenomenon as “imposter syndrome,” and defines it as “a collection of feelings of inadequacy that persist despite evident success.” Someone who suffers from this syndrome often believes that their actions do not merit their success.
Researchers have found that imposter syndrome is especially prevalent among women in academic and corporate settings. This is hypothesized to stem from debilitating messages in the workplace—in 2019 research, BBC discovered that for every 100 men hired and later promoted, only 72 women experienced these advancements. Not only this, but women often make less in the workplace (on average, 82 cents to a man’s dollar), allowing even capitalism to reinforce a notion of their inadequacy. This inequality is also exacerbated in the job search process; Harvard Business Review reports that “men apply for a job when they meet only 60% of the qualifications, but women apply only if they meet 100% of them.”
Imposter syndrome can also manifest in a situation in which everyone else is rooting for you, but yourself. This summer, I found myself doing developmental work for a non-profit in Winston-Salem—drafting donor solicitation letters, writing grant proposals, and publishing press releases. While I received an abundance of positive feedback from my supervisors, mentors, and peers, I couldn’t help but think to myself that as a 19-year-old, fresh out of freshman year of college, I did not deserve to be entrusted with such seemingly important and impactful tasks.
So how do we as women overcome these feelings? First, I think it’s crucial to underscore that if the world doesn’t see us as equal to men, it is even more important to believe so ourselves. This is easier said than done, but we can start with recognizing feelings of self-doubt when they arise and combating them with messages of self-love. No matter what the situation, put your actions in context (no one can feel 100%, 100% of the time), seek support from others who may serve as an uplifting presence, and recognize that you are responsible for your own success—no matter if the little voices in your head try to tell you otherwise.
Sources:
https://hbr.org/2008/05/overcoming-imposter-syndrome
https://www.businessinsider.com/gender-wage-pay-gap-charts-2017-3
https://hbr.org/2014/08/why-women-dont-apply-for-jobs-unless-theyre-100-qualified