PODCAST: Why Imposter Syndrome Is Worse For Women
As a coach for a number of women’s leadership programs, diversity expert Anne Litwin says she encounters women from many cultures who suffer from Imposter Syndrome.
She contends that women are more susceptible to the imposter syndrome than men, in part because women from underrepresented groups don’t see others like them in certain industries and organizations. This can trigger and reinforce feelings of not belonging. Some cultures impose traditional gender roles and attach a stigma to being female, leading to added barriers to success. Imposter Syndrome can be experience by women who can’t separate their internalized experience of oppression from actual discrimination where barriers are real.
Her advice:
- Join an affinity group to find comrades.
- Find a mentor who can serve as a professional anchor.
- Document your accomplishments so you’re focused on facts in addition to feelings.
Here are a few more tips to help you stop feeling like an imposter.