Facing Imposter Syndrome
By Ariana Bui
Described as “a false and sometimes crippling belief that one's successes are the product of luck or fraud rather than skill” by Merriam-Webster, imposter syndrome is a common feeling which I’ve come to find many in STEM, including myself, have experienced. Those with imposter syndrome might question why they feel like a fraud and doubt their worthiness, and these negative feelings can be detrimental to one’s self-confidence and mental health. In some cases it may also have a harmful effect on one's academic and professional career as they question their ability to move forward and on to higher pursuits.
After talking to many other students about this feeling, it became clear to me how much more common this was than one may think to believe. If you are feeling this way, know that you are not alone and it only takes a quick conversation with your peers to realize this. While it may seem daunting, it is believed that coming forward about these feelings and talking about it with others might actually help those with imposter syndrome overcome it. By having open conversations about imposter syndrome, we can find relief in knowing these thoughts are valid and potentially collect positive insights from our peers.
“What is imposter syndrome and how can you combat it? - Elizabeth Cox” is a great Ted Talk which delves deeper into imposter syndrome and explores how we can combat these negative feelings.
Upon having my own conversations about imposter syndrome, I found it in teresting to note that these feelings were amplified among those from underrepresented groups such as women and more specifically women of color. Despite knowing them as extremely intelligent individuals, it was shocking to hear how some of my classmates questioned their abilities and downplayed the legitimacy of their success.
After further reading, I discovered that this trend could potentially be explained by the current lack of diversity and underrepresentation of certain groups in academics and job fields. In the article “Why imposter syndrome hits women and women of colour harder” published by BBC, Brian Daniel Norton, a psychotherapist and executive coach in New York, is quoted summing “When you experience systemic oppression or are directly or indirectly told your whole life that you are less-than or undeserving of success and you begin to achieve things in a way that goes against a long-standing narrative in the mind, imposter syndrome will occur.” Norton’s point highlights the importance of diversity in STEM. The current lack of female representation sends the implicit message to young girls that women do not belong in STEM, and this could not be farther from the truth.
Overall, the feelings of self-doubt which are associated with imposter syndrome are never a great feeling to have, and it is unfortunate that they disproportionately affect those in underrepresented groups. However, we do not have to keep these feelings to ourselves. It is normal to have self-doubt, but we should not let the negative emotions of imposter syndrome let it get in the way of our pursuits. By being conscious of this phenomenon and opening up dialogue on the issue, hopefully, we can reduce the amount of people suffering the negative effects of imposter syndrome.
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