Unmasking Imposter Syndrome: Women’s Post-Graduate Realities
Hi everyone! Welcome back to the fifth installment of Building Mental Health as a Community. While we have been focusing on the stigma surrounding mental health within society and our communities, I wanted to pivot to an important (and overlooked) mental health topic: Imposter Syndrome.
Imposter syndrome is defined as the feeling that someone is “undeserving of their achievements… They feel that they aren’t as competent or intelligent as others might think—and that soon enough, people will discover the truth about them” (from Psychology Today). Imposter syndrome is more common in women in comparison to men, with Forbes’ article stating “an estimated 75% of [female] respondents agreed that they experienced feelings of being an impostor at some stage in their careers; 85% believed that this feeling is largely held by women in corporate America; while 81% stated that they put more pressure on themselves to perform highly and not fail in business than their male counterparts” (Forbes). Today I decided to reach out to some of the women in my community to evaluate their thoughts and opinions on imposter syndrome as they have begun to navigate adult life after receiving their undergraduate degrees.
“I'd say it affects me more post-grad than it did while I was in school. Especially given that my job didn’t have any training, it was more of a “thrown in the deep end” type of situation where I'm added to all of these intense meetings with people who have literal decades more experience than I do. I’m fortunate that I can discuss it with my immediate team, and the Women’s group that I’m a member of, but for the most part, I have no choice but to deal with it and keep moving forward. I think that it will always be something we deal with but it’s been pretty intense since graduating.”
Mary Chapman, Business Analyst
“Post-graduation, I've struggled with imposter syndrome, which I attribute to inadequate preparation from the education system. I also find myself grappling with uncertainty about my life direction and whether I'm suited for the current job market. Simultaneously, I'm attempting to align my passions with my professional and financial goals into a cohesive life path. Despite extensive schooling and making significant decisions, I often feel directionless and unqualified for my current station in life. This has left me feeling profoundly lost.”
Ashika Sagar, Recent Graduate
“Imposter syndrome has impacted me in a lot of ways. As I work while being in school, I feel like I don’t deserve to have a professional role because I’m still in school. I’m afraid to share my opinion and lack confidence due to the intern status my job holds. I’m afraid that by getting another degree, I’ll be behind in the professional world versus my peers who are already in the workforce. Imposter syndrome makes me feel like I can’t do hard things because of my age, and that people won’t take me seriously, or shouldn’t. The lack of confidence is huge for me, as I constantly think that people won’t want to hear what I have to say. I frequently wonder why my graduate program let me in and feel that I shouldn’t be here. I convince myself that I am not worthy of professional achievements or positions despite having a degree and being smart. Imposter syndrome is very difficult in my age group and for those just coming out of school.”
Megan Sawatzky, Graduate Student and Intern
Why does society encourage us, as women, to suffer from our own success? While imposter syndrome is not something that we can change overnight for women currently pursuing education or their career, we can use our community to support and uplift others, especially those feeling the effects of imposter syndrome. I hope this writing inspires you to create that open dialogue with other women in your community and network of support, and help us push for the change we wish to see in the world.