Success shouldn’t come with a target on one’s back, but at Fresno State, Tall Poppy Syndrome (TPS) is cutting down high-achieving students, stifling ambition across the campus.
TPS is an Australian-born term describing a situation where people, particularly women, are criticized or resented due to being “too successful.”
Named after the image of a poppy growing too tall above the rest in the field and ultimately getting cut down, TPS often discourages high performers from standing out from their peers.
For some students, the backlash against their achievements can come from the people closest to them — including friends and family.
“My ex-best friend didn’t get into Smittcamp, but I did,” said Celeste Jones, a media, communications and journalism major at Fresno State. “She was going around telling everyone in my hometown that it was a cult, and she couldn’t be happier that she didn’t get in.”
Jones described feeling a “weird energy” from her friend, who she said tried to ruin something she was proud of, leaving her isolated and hurt. Her friend’s jealousy made her shy away from talking about Smittcamp with people from her hometown.
Situations like this are the result of a stigma around women who want to succeed; One that isn’t quite seen as much when concerning men and creates a sense of internalized sexism.
Women unconsciously absorb beliefs about their rightful place, and those messages show up in how women judge each other, writes Mikaela Kiner for the Harvard Business Review.
“I think misogyny plays a big role in all of it,” Jones said. “As a woman, you want to support other women succeeding. It’s hard to see women tearing each other down, and it makes me sad.”
While TPS is a term much more commonly heard in Australia, it’s relevant even in the U.S., though much more often described as the “crab mentality.”
“Where people experienced TPS the most was with their friends and social network,” said Rumeet Billan, CEO of Women of Influence+, in an interview with Harper’s Bazaar. “What ends up happening for some is they stop sharing their milestones with those whom they should feel comfortable confiding in.”
Jones’s experience is a familiar one among students in the United States, with some stemming back to their childhoods.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, public schools in the United States aren’t always known for being the most accepting place, especially for students who excel in class.
Students are commonly singled out from their peers through California’s Gifted & Talented Education program, but for those who grew up as a “gifted kid” in school, their involvement in the program can lead to resentment from classmates.
“I was always labeled the ‘smart’ one, with unspoken pressure from my extended family to meet high expectations,” said Mya Correa, a member of the Women’s Alliance Club at Fresno State. “I moved away for bigger opportunities, sensing quiet resentment building over time. My aunts and uncles would make subtle jokes, masking envy for the path I had chosen.”
TPS and the crab mentality go hand-in-hand, discouraging women from embracing their achievements, and leading them to be reluctant to stand out.
For many women, internalized sexism can not only stop them from making career advancements but also turn them away from becoming friends with people they consider ‘competition.’
“Jealousy is dangerous, leading people to see me as entitled or privileged and even costing me the ability to form a friendship with others,” Correa said.
The problem is clear: TPS creates barriers for women regarding both their careers and personal lives; these dynamics can create an environment where resentment thrives.
It highlights the need for universities to focus on fostering a culture where we celebrate women’s achievements rather than undermining them.
“Celebrate your success, and don’t be afraid to celebrate your success. You don’t need external opinions on that,” Jones said. “You can still be proud of things that other people might not deem as ‘worthy.’”