Imposter Syndrome. A gender issue?
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Imposter syndrome, the feeling of inadequacy or self-doubt despite evident success is one of the most common mental health issues in today’s workplace. It’s something that affects individuals regardless of gender with nearly 58% of employees experiencing feelings of self-doubt and failure that override their successes in their workplace.
It has however been observed that imposter syndrome may be more commonly reported among women. The ‘Working on Wellbeing’ survey of 2,500 UK workers in 2022 and showed that 21% of women suffered very frequently from imposter syndrome compared to just 12% of men. A further study of 4,000 adults commissioned by Galaxy and the Young Women’s Trust in 2023 found that 62% of the women claimed to have hardly ever felt true confidence in their lives, with 53% struggling with unwarranted feelings of self-doubt, incompetence, and being underqualified. Comparatively, 54% of the men surveyed said they had never felt that way at all, with 63% admitting they only ever felt like it in the workplace.
Although imposter syndrome can affect individuals regardless of gender, there are specific issues that may disproportionately impact women. Some of these include:
1. Societal Expectations: Women often face societal pressure to be perfect, nurturing, and accommodating, exacerbating feelings of inadequacy if they feel they don't meet these standards.
2. Gender Bias: Women are more likely to be underestimated or overlooked, leading them to doubt their abilities and feel they don't belong in certain roles or industries.
3. Tokenism: As a result of being the minority in male-dominated fields, women may feel they have to prove themselves constantly to be taken seriously.
4. Perfectionism: Women are more likely to internalise perfectionist tendencies, set excessively high standards for themselves and feel like failures if they don't meet them.
5. Work-Life Balance: Juggling multiple roles and responsibilities alongside professional aspirations can amplify feelings of inadequacy and impostorism.
6. Lack of Representation: A lack of female leaders can make it difficult for women to envision themselves succeeding in similar roles.
7. Microaggressions: Women may encounter subtle forms of discrimination such as being interrupted frequently or having their ideas dismissed, which can undermine their confidence and reinforce imposter syndrome.
8. Stereotype Threat: Women may experience performance anxiety due to the fear of conforming to negative stereotypes about their gender's competence in certain fields.
9. Internalised Sexism: Women who have internalised societal messages about their worth or capabilities based on their gender may struggle as they navigate professional environments.
10. Imposter Syndrome Cycle: Women may find themselves in a cycle of imposter syndrome, where feelings of inadequacy lead to self-doubt and fear of failure, which in turn reinforces the belief that they are imposters.
Although imposter syndrome can affect anyone, the early exposure to negative beliefs and thought patterns means women may be more susceptible to the self-doubt that provides the basis for imposter syndrome. In the workplace they are often held to a higher standard than men, and are expected to be warm, caring and sociable whilst dealing with many other contradictory and clashing biases.
An understanding of the specific challenges faced by women can create more supportive environments and interventions to address imposter syndrome. This requires a multifaceted approach that includes building self-confidence, challenging societal norms and biases, fostering inclusive environments, providing mentorship and support networks, and promoting a culture of recognition and validation for achievements.