Current Issues in United States History

Current Issues in United States History

Mentoring Experiences of Women in Graduate Education : Factors that Matter

A Critique

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The article , Mentoring Experiences of Women in Graduate Education Factors that Matter , focuses on women 's relational approaches which are affected by their gender socialization . The said article studies the various subjective experiences a woman encounters when teaching counseling and mentoring . It also explores the different aspects that contribute to these experiences exclusive to women in graduate school the costs and benefits of

these relationships for women , and the women 's role models in the familial and professional areas

The article takes on a feminist approach as it differentiates the traditional male to male mentoring relationships from that of the women 's . It asserts that in the male to male relationships , there is an acceptance of patriarchal and hierarchal organization . On the contrary the women employ a more relational approach , which gives value to the emotional factor involved in the female relationships . But presently the prevailing standard employed by mentoring environments is that of a traditional patriarchal environment . It can therefore be said that women in mentoring fields are currently in struggle with the prevailing norms

The article undertook a study which aimed to investigate factors that affect women 's mentoring gender socialization . The study yielded seven key s which suggest that female undergraduate students and their faculty members share same views about their respective mentoring experiences as well as views in the mentoring field . They all commonly voiced their desire for an empowering relationship . This , according to the surveyed collegiate students and teachers , is illustrated by the kind assistance

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inspiration , faith , pride , cooperative hand , and personal growth they gain from these student-teacher relationships . Also , the study explores the sense of obligation that both sides feel for each other , the overall mentor 's investment in the student-teacher relationship (personal /emotional , professional development , time /availability , and financial investment , the factors that affect the growth of their relationship towards each other , and their capacity to balance of their own personal and professional life , experiences in the male mentoring domain , and peer mentoring

The study 's results depict the multi-dimensionality of the women mentors ' needs in to be successful in their personal and professional mentoring careers . The study also showed that these needs did not alter when compared with the past researches on the same subject . Also , this study suggests that women , in general , have corresponding views (and at the same time ) distinct desires to their mentoring relationships in contrast to the more traditional , patriarchal setting typified by the male to male mentoring conditions

Generally speaking , the study only focused on the mentoring experiences good points . Unfortunately , it did not include the hardships that women encounter with regards to their being women . It did not tackle the prejudice that women are subjected to in the patriarchal education system . If only the study explored that particular downside , the study would be so much useful and practical . But all in all , the study would indeed be important for reflection on our current educational system with regards to the women in a male dominated field

REFERENCE

Rayle A .D , Bordes V , Zapata A , Arrendondo

, Rutter M , Howard C (2006 , May . Mentoring Experiences of Women in Graduate Education Factors that Matter . Current Issues in Education [On-line] , 9 (6 HYPERLINK "http /cie .asu .edu /volume9 /number6 /index .html http /cie .ed .asu .edu /volume9 /number6 ...