Achieving success is a rewarding feeling. To women, it’s also empowering. Unfortunately, it doesn’t always feel that way for them. Galaxy (the confectionery brand) commissioned a poll and they found out that women are more likely to suffer from Imposter Syndrome than men.
But how bad is Imposter Syndrome — and why do people experience it?
Battling Imposter Syndrome
Imposter Syndrome is a feeling where a person is successful or thriving objectively, but they don’t feel fulfilled internally; people who experience this feel as though they’re a phony. Hence, the word “imposter.” In Galaxy’s poll (that was conducted in the UK), 53% of the women who were surveyed are said to suffer from this phenomenon.
At some point, many have felt incompetent in their careers or lives, in general. However, sometimes, Imposter Syndrome can become so crippling and anxiety-inducing, that it can get in the way of people’s day-to-day lives — and that’s what some women in the survey feel. 24% of them said that Imposter Syndrome disrupted their romantic relationships before. 22% said that it got in the way when it comes to making new friends. 18% of the women also said that it hindered them from being the best kinds of parents they should be.
Why Women Are More Likely to Experience It
A person’s success is typically determined by external influences. Whether it’s another person like your family complimenting you for being, say, an excellent hostess, or a job promotion, we usually learn our value — and what we can give — to others that convinces us of our worth. But when all signs of success are there, yet you’re still unable to assure yourself that your presence is paramount to people, you have to look at who and what is holding you back — sometimes, it can be your own self.
In some instances, a person who’s suffering from Imposter Syndrome can get too preoccupied with thinking that they’re living a “double life.” They sometimes spend hours, days, to a portion of their lives believing that they’ll eventually be “caught” — and dealing with this can cause anxiety and fear. If you feel that this resonates with you, you have to evaluate why you feel this way — and where all of this stems from.
Perfectionism
We all strive for perfection. Sadly, three in ten of the women who were polled believe that their deep desire to attain perfection is what’s causing their Imposter Syndrome. Another factor could be the existence of patriarchy and “mansplainers” — which doesn’t seem that much of a myth. In another survey by sociologists from Washington State University and the University of Virginia, it’s found that women feel the need to work twice as hard as men in order to be recognized for their hard work.
Elizabeth Gorman of the University of Virginia told Newswise, “Even when women and men are matched on extensive measures of job characteristics, family and household responsibilities, and individual qualifications, women report that their jobs require more effort than men do,” she added, “Between a man and a woman who hold the same job, shoulder the same burdens at home and have the same education and skills, the woman is likely to feel she must work harder.”
Therefore, women are oftentimes pressured to be “perfect” by their own selves — as it’s what society constantly expects them to be.
Outside Factors
Our lives and experiences will be different from other people’s. And some of them will simply enjoy theirs more successfully than we will — with our lives. But when you spend a significant amount of time comparing yourself to them, jealousy and insecurity may just get the better of you.
Among the men and women that Galaxy surveyed, 65% of the men and women said that social media makes them feel like an imposter — and 44% of the women believe that incessantly comparing their lives with others was the trigger of their Imposter Syndrome.
Lack of Confidence
Everyone is susceptible to insecurities — and many of us have them. What’s worrisome, however, is that in Galaxy’s poll, 63% of the women said that their lack of confidence is what causes their Imposter Syndrome. While confidence is what many spend their lives trying to gain, when women are too critical of themselves, it can keep them from believing that they’re indeed worthy of the things they already have — a prosperous job, a supportive family, a house to live in, and many more.
Not everyone realizes that they owe their success and happiness primarily to themselves, first and foremost — as they’re the ones who worked for it.
At the End of the Day…
Life is already difficult as it is. Unfortunately, women not only apparently have to work for success twice as hard, but they’re also twice as likely to doubt themselves — as Imposter Syndrome keeps them from believing that they’re vital to their families and jobs.
Some of them believe that it’s because they subject themselves to an intense amount of pressure to be successful, while others are simply vulnerable to insecurities — hence why some lack the confidence to believe that they are indeed worthy of all that they have in their lives.
Keep in mind that perception is subjective — your importance, however, is irrefutable. People in your life believe in you! — start believing in yourself, too!