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Imposter syndrome is an internal experience of believing that you are not as competent as others perceive you to be. While this definition is usually narrowly applied to intelligence and achievement, it has links to perfectionism and the social context. This is common among women of color, people who have had trauma filled childhoods, and other neurodivergent persons. Women, especially women of color tend to fall under this umbrella and it’s not common among men, but they can experience it as well.
In reading through the comments I see that you know what it is so I won’t go through an explanation but I am glad to see you aren’t impacted by it. I certainly am and I struggle with it almost daily. I’m trying to overcome it but I’m super happy to see someone who doesn’t have it.
Holy shit MP1 the way you've described this is so scary on track with exactly how I feel. I know of imposter syndrome but didn't realize others felt it the same way I did. Hang in there MP1.
As a first generation African woman, if anything I don't necessarily feel imposter syndrome, but I do feel that there is a gap in proper perception. I know that I am smart but I encounter people that assume that I am less intelligent than I am because of the color of my skin. Which is tiring because in spite of great work product, my good efforts are minimized and any perceived "mistakes" are harped on. I say "mistakes" because it is frequent that any mishap somehow ends up being attributed to me... when in reality, it had nothing to do with my actions and it was not my fault - almost like scapegoat syndrome. Not to mention the fact that my name is devoid of any African sounding name (through marriage), so I am constantly worrying that people are treating me a certain way because they think I am African American rather than African b/c I remember how I was treated before the name change from marriage and it was more positive (which I think is horrible and another layer of discrimination all together).
Sorry in advance if this offends anyone, this has just been my personal experience
I don't have imposter syndrome, black woman, but what is the point of this post?
Nothing is universal among minorities, or even a specific minority group.
That said when I hear people speak about imposter syndrome, I do know what they are talking about. So its hard to know if you're engaging in good faith in asking, or just posting this to do the whole "I'm not like other POCs" thing
Im genuinely wondering which it is
Are you both relatively privileged cis men? You aren’t “supposed” to have anything because you’re a POC
I agree that women of color may have to work as hard for half of the recognition in some circumstances, but, for me, that does translate to feeling imposter syndrome. I’m a woman of color and I don’t feel imposter syndrome 🤷🏽♀️
I'm a black man in America. I don't consider myself privileged but even now in the big law space, I don't feel this imposter syndrome thing that everyone keep telling me I'm supposed to feel.
Someone told you that you are supposed to feel
Imposter syndrome? Would love to hear the context of how this came up.
Sometimes, people develop imposter syndrome due to lived experiences. I came from a background where I was always one of the smartest people in the room and I had no imposter syndrome whatsoever, then I went to a firm where I was the only black person in my group and they didn’t lose any opportunity to make me feel like I wasn’t good enough. I thought I did a pretty good job with keeping my confidence, but the toxicity took a toll on my mental health and I developed anxiety and depression. I subsequently moved on to a different firm…still didn’t think I had imposter syndrome, until I found myself procrastinating unnecessarily when working with the new folks and once caught my hands shaking while trying to do some work. That’s when it dawned on me that I’d developed imposter syndrome - at some point in the midst of all that toxicity, I had started to fear that I wasn’t good enough and this was showing up as anxiety and a tendency to procrastinate. Once I identified the issue, it was a lot easier to spot the signs and coach myself through it. I think imposter syndrome is associated with minorities because they are more likely to have gone through workplace trauma and racism that in turn trigger a deep seated belief of not being deserving. However, like many other characteristics, it is not an absolute.
Who is telling you you’re “supposed” to feel it?
Nah.
I’m a Latina and own my own law firm with my husband who is Native American and neither one of us has felt it.
https://www.apa.org/gradpsych/2013/11/fraud
I don’t understand it to be about belonging or whether or not you’re a minority. I think you do have to be in a high-level position though. Otherwise, you don’t have as much to be insecure about in regard to qualifications and responsibilities
Also it’s often caused and perpetuated by people around you. So if you’ve been lucky enough to not be around those kinds of people or not cared that’s great for you
Are you a Crazy Rich Asian? 😬
Same I have never felt it. Maybe it's my male ego but I've never felt like I didn't belong.
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I think I know what I’m supposed to feel, but I feel the same as you A1. I feel like I deserved everything I get, and actually feel like I deserve more.