Most women in STEM feel like frauds, new study shows

Some high-achieving people struggle with a hidden face: a face they consider fraudulent, dreading that it will be discovered.

All those high grades, awards and research grants? Sheer luck, the impostor tells them. You were just in the right place at the right time.

This phenomenon is known as impostorism and is a distinct psychological experience that differs from low self-esteem or depression, according to Binghamton University, State University of New York psychology researcher Jiyun Elizabeth Shin, a lecturer who heads the Social Identity & Academic Engagement Laboratory. She recently published “Impostorism: Prevalence and its relationships with mental health, burnout, dropout consideration, and achievement among graduate women in STEM” in the journal Social Psychology of Education.

Shin’s research shows that 97.5% of women in STEM graduate programs report at least a moderate level of impostor experiences. Having multiple marginalized identities, such as being a woman of color, may increase the likelihood.

“Impostorism is a feeling like being an intellectual fraud even when there is strong evidence of success,” Shin explained. “You believe that other people are overestimating your abilities and intelligence, and you fear that one day you’ll be exposed as incompetent and undeserving of your success.”

The psychological phenomenon centers on how individuals perceive their abilities and past achievements. In short, individuals struggling with impostor fears typically fail to internalize their success and instead attribute it to external factors such as luck. Because of this, they fear that they won’t be able to replicate their success and worry that others will eventually discover that they aren’t as capable or intelligent as they appear.

While anyone can experience impostorism regardless of background, individuals from minoritized or underrepresented groups may be more vulnerable due to negative societal beliefs. In science, technology, engineering and mathematics, a prevalent stereotype falsely suggests that women don’t have the natural intellectual abilities needed to succeed, which may make it more difficult for women in these fields to internalize their success. The lack of representation in the field also plays a role, reminding underrepresented groups about society’s negative perception of their abilities.

“Findings from my research showed that impostorism predicted poorer overall mental health, greater burnout, and increased consideration of dropout among graduate women in STEM,” Shin reflected.

Having a fixed mindset — believing that abilities are innate and cannot be improved — is also associated with impostorism. Because of this, strategies aimed at shifting people’s mindsets may also be beneficial.

While such feelings are common among high-achieving individuals, they may be reluctant to share these experiences, increasing their suffering and isolation. Talking about it may be key to coping with impostor feelings and avoiding downturns in emotional and mental health.

“More research is needed to better identify strategies to reduce impostor experiences, but social support may be helpful in reducing impostor fears,” Shin said.