A young woman has criticized a “baffling” aspect of Australian society – claiming it is virtually “impossible” to escape.
Sophie Kapfrom Sydney, constantly downplays her success due to ‘tall poppy syndrome’.
The idea is the “perceived tendency to disparage or discredit those who have achieved notable wealth or prominence in public life.”
The entrepreneur was baffled at how deep-rooted the problem is, claiming she had to minimize her performance to ‘not seem too selfish or overconfident’.
“My whole experience is trying to deviate from what I actually do and what I consider successful so that people don’t judge me,” Sophie said. ‘I hate it, I feel really fake when I do that. I wish we could stop.”
Sophie Hood finds herself downplaying her success due to ‘Tall Poppy Syndrome’
She shared that it was especially difficult to run her own business.
‘As a brand founder, I think it’s crazy that people try to criticize the success of others, especially when they’re on their way to the top and try to stick their neck out or go against the grain a bit. because that’s when people need the most support.
“What really irritates me is when it’s women doing it to other women – especially those who brag about women’s empowerment.”
Sophie recently experienced a culture shock when speaking to colleagues in the US.
“I’ve been on a lot of calls with the US this week and it’s different in the way they embrace and celebrate people. They are so outward-looking in their confidence about what they have achieved and can achieve.
“It’s inspiring and it also makes you feel good because they’re celebrating you.
‘In Australia I feel like I’m constantly downplaying everything I do because I don’t want to seem selfish or overconfident.’
The business owner was baffled at how deep-rooted the problem is, claiming she had to minimize her performance to “not seem too selfish or overconfident.”
Some claimed the syndrome was necessary to ‘preserve’ Australian culture.
‘The Tall Poppy Syndrome is preventing Australia from becoming America. We are for every man, not for the so-called ‘elite,'” one man said.
But others wished their peers would provide more support.
“As an Australian who founded an advertising company in New York City, this is 1000 percent true. In the US, success is celebrated,” one person said.
“So many people don’t want to see you succeed because they’re too scared to try themselves,” wrote a second.
“I’ve noticed it comes from people not striving for anything or jealous of how far you’ve come in a short time,” said a third.
‘It feels so scary to achieve anything in this country, because you subconsciously wait for that negative energy or someone to say something nasty about what you do. Aussies are the worst when it comes to success,” said one woman.