You Belong
Overcoming Cultural Imposter Syndrome
Living in two worlds and feeling like I did not completely fit in anywhere, often hearing the question, “what are you?” as if being two ethnicities made me a different human. It became challenging for me to answer this question because I began to wonder if I had to choose an ethnicity. Do I look like one more than the other? If so, is that the one I should choose? Was I allowed to choose? If others couldn’t figure it out, how could I?
Growing up in a multicultural home was one of the most enlightening experiences of my life. My mother is a White American, and my father was Puerto Rican and raised in the Bronx, New York. I frequently navigated what felt like two entirely different worlds because of the vastly different languages and family dynamics between them.
Perhaps you have experienced something like this:
The complicated experience of navigating two different languages being spoken at home.
For example, it was common to hear both English and Spanish spoken at home, but English was mostly used. I learned certain Spanish phrases to communicate with my abuelos, tíos y tías, and primos. However, I struggled to become fluent in Spanish for several reasons, including being made fun of by family members when I said something incorrectly or sounded “too proper” from learning Spanish in school.
Feeling disconnected or “not quite fitting in” with certain family members.
People in my family spoke different degrees of Spanish and some only spoke Spanish. I often struggled with shame and anxiety any time an opportunity to speak Spanish would arise. I began to avoid speaking Spanish, and my father did not pressure me to learn the language. Growing up, he had his own challenges navigating Spanish at home and English at school while also struggling with dyslexia.
Experiencing two culturally different worlds.
In my experience, hanging out with my mother’s side versus father’s side came with some different customs, traditions, and expectations. I never truly felt like I fit in anywhere. As a young child, I learned to adjust how I acted depending on which side of my family I was with because each had different values, expectations, and family dynamics.
Being immersed in one culture but identifying more with the other.
For me, even though I absolutely loved being around my father’s family, I began to feel a disconnect between being Puerto Rican and actually believing I belonged to the culture. As I got older, I noticed that I wasn’t learning the same traditions as my cousins on the island, I couldn’t speak the language, and I had never been there. I began to feel like I was pretending and wasn’t “Puerto Rican enough” to claim that part of my identity.
If any of this sounds familiar, you’re not alone. Growing up between cultures can sometimes leave us wondering where we belong or whether we’re enough to claim either part of our identity.[1] The truth is that you belong. You are not an imposter.
So, what do we mean by cultural imposter syndrome?
Cultural imposter syndrome describes that uncomfortable feeling that you aren’t “enough” to claim your own cultural identity. It’s the fear that you are not an authentic member of your cultural community or group.[2] Maybe you don’t speak the language, didn’t grow up with certain traditions, or feel like your experiences don’t match others from your culture. You might even worry that you’re somehow pretending to be something you actually aren't. This can come with identity insecurities, as we can feel like we see ourselves one way, but society sees us as another. The truth is, you are completely everything that makes you, you.
You have the right to identify with all the cultures and ethnicities that make you who you are. You belong, you are good enough, and you don’t need to try to fit in.
How can we accept ourselves for who we are?
Connect with people who understand:
Having other people around you with shared experiences can be very beneficial. By sharing thoughts, feelings, and life journeys with others of similar backgrounds, we begin to see that we are not alone in our feelings. Connecting with others who understand can remind us of that. There are online social platforms that can be a connection. Your local community center may have groups that meet or resources that can validate your experiences. Also, connecting with a family member or friend from our culture can help when we need someone to listen.
Explore your cultural identity:
Those of us from biracial and multicultural backgrounds can feel like we don’t ‘fit in’ or aren’t good enough to claim our heritage. This can happen because of things like language barriers or feeling like we haven't ‘earned’ the right to embrace those parts of ourselves. Exploring your cultural background, language, food, and geography can be a healing experience. When we become an explorer of our own stories, we get a boost of confidence. This helps us trust in our capabilities to learn and grow, leading to more positive thoughts and beliefs about ourselves.[3] Just remember to make it fun and approach it with curiosity rather than pressure.
Seek therapeutic support:
Sometimes, feelings about our cultural identity and belonging can be difficult to work through on our own. Talking with a therapist, especially one who understands multicultural experiences, can provide a safe space to explore these feelings without judgment. Therapy can help us better understand where feelings come from while learning to feel more secure and confident in who we are. If you feel that you could benefit from additional support, consider reaching out to a therapist in your community.
Closing Words
Living between cultures can sometimes make us question where we fit, but we don’t have to pick just one part of ourselves and leave out the rest. Our experiences might not look the same as other people who share our heritage, but that doesn’t make our identity any less real or meaningful. We can hold all parts of who we are at the same time, while still learning, exploring, and staying connected to our cultures along the way.
You belong.
You are good enough.
You are not an imposter.
Multiculturally yours,
Eileen
Eileen Rodriguez-Rush
Summer 2026 Intern - Weltitude Psychology, PLLC
Research & Outreach Internship Program
Student - Central Michigan University
Sources & References:
1 Bae, S. M. (2020). The relationship between bicultural identity, acculturative stress, and psychological well-being in multicultural adolescents: Verification using multivariate latent growth modeling. Stress and Health, 36(1), 51–58. https://doi.org/10.1002/smi.2912
2 Eldridge, S. (2026, August 18). imposter syndrome. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/imposter-syndrome
3 Pekmezi, D., Jennings, E., & Marcus, B. H. (2009). Evaluating and enhancing self-efficacy for physical activity. ACSM’s Health & Fitness Journal, 13(2), 16–21. https://doi.org/10.1249/FIT.0b013e3181996571
