Imposter Syndrome: The Real Cause

Have you ever felt as if you were not worthy to hold the position that you do? Have you ever questioned yourself and your abilities? Have you ever been reluctant to speak up in a room of people that don't look like you?

These questions revolve around the concept of imposter syndrome, defined as "the persistent inability to believe that one's success is deserved or has been legitimately achieved as a result of one's own efforts or skills." I know I can definitely answer yes to all of these questions. However, I have had many discussions with various people over where and why imposter syndrome affects us, and, after reading an article, I had a major realization.

Written by Ruchika Tulshyan and Jodi-Ann Burey, the article's title was "Stop Telling Women They Have Imposter Syndrome" (Linked below). The article is an incredible piece that highlights how imposter syndrome is not the individual woman's fault whatsoever. The real cause of the feeling is much deeper and environment-based than most people think, including me. Consequently, the solution to it is also much more systemic.

"The impact of systemic racism, classism, xenophobia, and other biases was categorically absent when the concept of imposter syndrome was developed. Many groups were excluded from the study, namely women of color and people of various income levels, genders, and professional backgrounds" - Tulshyan and Burey.

When the study regarding imposter syndrome was done in the 1970s, 150 high-achieving women took part. The paper evidently left out the effects of many of the key issues in the workplace today: systemic racism and xenophobia. Furthermore, the study was not representative of the feelings of women in all stages of life and all positions in the workplace. This is not to discredit the completely valid experiences of the high-achieving women, but it does serve to show that the concept of imposter syndrome does not manifest itself in every group and every individual in the same way. Women of color, women of different cultural backgrounds, women of different income levels, and women around the world each have unique experiences that result in them questioning themselves.

"Even if women demonstrate strength, ambition, and resilience, our daily battles with microaggressions, especially expectations and assumptions formed by stereotypes and racism, often push us down. Imposter syndrome as a concept fails to capture this dynamic and puts the onus on women to deal with the effects" - Tulshyan and Burey.

The real cause of imposter syndrome largely lies in environment. When someone makes insensitive comments about your femininity, your race, your background or criticizes you for not "being a team player," for being abrasive, naturally, you are going to start to question yourself. These types of remarks occur in many different male- and white- dominated environments from classrooms to the workplace. Systemic racism is often the root of the doubt and lack of confidence that women start to experience, but, unfortunately, it is often disregarded, and sometimes not even acknowledged as a real issue.

"The answer to overcoming imposter syndrome is not to fix individuals but to create an environment that fosters a variety of leadership styles and in which diverse racial, ethnic, and gender identities are seen as just as professional as the current model, which Opie describes as usually 'Eurocentric, masculine, and heteronormative'" - Tulshyan and Burey.

What is the solution? The solution revolves around change in the environment, not the individuals. We as women should not be forced to give up our unique characteristics and cultural standards that we have been taught and want to live by. We should not just have to learn to ignore insensitive sexist and racist comments. The actual problem lies in the environment, and, thus, the actual answer lies in changing that environment.

Click here to read the article.