What I Learned from the “Emerging Imposter Phenomenon” Empower Hour
Sammy Luc
In the first Radiance Empower Hour of 2024, we wanted to bring the topic of Imposter Phenomenon to the table.
So why “Imposter Phenomenon” instead of “Imposter Syndrome”? The term “syndrome” has implications of a medical condition, where a person or individuals may need to seek medical or professional support and is stigmatizing (Cokley, 2024). The term “phenomenon,” in a scientific context, can be defined as something that can be observed that occurs and/or exists. This phenomenon is experienced by many individuals and affects high achievers, who in particular, are women and college students (Na, 2022).
Furthermore, Imposter Phenomenon can also be felt or experienced in many different situations. Something to think about is how one’s environment–the home, workplace, public, family, friends, and more, can also influence how the Imposter Phenomenon is developed in an individual. Perceptions of ourselves, as well as our environments, play key roles that can lead to these experiences of not being “enough” to stand out or seem “less” qualified in comparison to peers or other individuals. Have we, ourselves, undermined our successes in the belief that it’s not something to be celebrated for? Do our culture and values that we grew up with also play a role in affecting our beliefs about success?
Important Questions to Highlight
So, what are some questions we can highlight for us to navigate through these experiences?
What success or achievement have you downplayed before and why?
How does your cultural background (and or other aspects of your identity) influence your perception of achievement?
What aspects of your environment play a role in your feelings of being an “imposter”?
Key Takeaways
Throughout this session, I listened and read the many different yet similar experiences. A key takeaway that I took from the session was that Imposter Phenomenon isn’t as simple to describe as a one-time occurrence, but a journey that one undergoes as an experience. During the Radiance Empower Hour, some have expressed that at the beginning of their career, they had to downplay their achievements because it felt like it was bragging. This led them to believe that the act of celebrating or speaking up about their successes was perceived as disingenuous, not only for themselves but for others–something that I could definitely relate to. I believe that culture plays a large role in how we interpret and internalize success. Humbleness is a quality that is extremely important in Asian culture. As an Asian American woman, I was taught to never boast or brag because it defies what it means to be modest and polite. Not only that, such behavior is considered to be “bad manners” and our actions should speak louder than our words could. This also makes it difficult to sometimes accept compliments or praise because it should be in our nature to be humble.
Furthermore, as some attendees noted being born from immigrant parents, reflected an emphasis on being a high achiever and needing education to be successful or to find success. Although I personally didn’t face the pressures of my parents “forcing me” to do well in school, I definitely felt the pressure as if they did. A lot of my friends experienced the “Tiger Mom” or “Asian Parenting” where if they didn’t score high or do a perfect job, they’d get scolded or face consequences. This tied into me feeling like an imposter because my own experiences weren't like the common collective experience of Asian childhoods. I felt like I had to be accountable and piled on these pressures on myself so I could be more relatable or more “Asian.” I observed and sometimes dealt with childhood interactions, such as being compared to other individuals or having “bad” grades led to lasting impacts of not being “good enough”, for those that dealt with the “Asian standards.”
On the topic of comparisons, Imposter Phenomenon may emerge as a result of comparing oneself to others who are “more qualified.” One of the attendees shared their experience, noting that being in a space where there are so many other individuals who seem “more” successful than them brought a sense of phoniness and anxiety because it felt like they didn’t fit in. They questioned why they were there, even though the other individuals, who looked like them and would be able to understand their background, were in the same program for the same goals and reasons. This type of experience is something that I’ve also gone through as well. I felt like there were lots of other Asians that I compared myself to. I felt a lot smaller and felt like I didn’t have the same impact I should when it came to qualifications. In some cases, I felt like I was being outshined and I had a hard time “standing out” because I felt like my achievements weren’t enough when others were doing “so much more” than me. Similarly, one attendee brought up a point about how they’ve downplayed their achievement of obtaining an Undergraduate degree because it is already so common and that now it feels like only having a degree isn’t enough to be qualified. Nowadays, big accomplishments such as graduating from college or university are now perceived to be less “impactful”, and thus celebrated less or feel like it isn’t such a “big deal” to highlight. Because of this, these experiences raised the internal need to prove ourselves and need to have more to ourselves to be deserving of being in a group or position.
Another takeaway to be brought up is that through a corporate lens and setting, there is a perception that individuals need to put up a front to look competitive and ambitious–which can lead to feelings of being an imposter because it could feel like you aren’t presenting your true self and thus being “fake.” As one attendee described, the corporate world is “dog eat dog.” In such a cutthroat environment, saturated with those with years of experience and degrees, it feels hard to not try to put up a specific version of yourself to stand out and look appealing because this kind of environment promotes the concept that success often means to outshine others. This fosters a culture where individuals constantly compare themselves to their colleagues and feel the immense pressure to perform at their best. The constant pressure to have to prove themselves can lead to self-doubt and if individuals do not meet expectations, contributes to how they may feel like an imposter.
This Radiance Empower Hour session has brought to light many perspectives that individuals may struggle with. I am thankful and honored to listen to the stories and voices that were told and spoken during this session. The Imposter Phenomenon takes many individuals through a journey of self-discovery, self-love, and understanding. By listening and hearing each others’ stories, we can become unified and emerge stronger with newfound confidence. These conversations are imperative in creating a safe space where individuals can come together and speak up about their struggles that can be difficult to navigate through and talk about. This provides an opportunity to find support and learn from each other’s experiences to raise awareness and bring validation.
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