When it comes to mentoring, women face more barriers than men. Here's
how men can help change that.
Increasingly, new employees and junior members of any profession are
encouraged--sometimes stridently--to "find a mentor!" Four decades of
research reveals that the effects of mentorship can be profound and
enduring; strong mentoring relationships have the capacity to transform
individuals and entire organizations.
But the mentoring landscape is unequal. Evidence consistently shows that
women face more barriers in securing mentorships than men, and when they
do find a mentor, they may reap a narrow range of both professional and
psychological benefits. Athena Rising is a book for men about how to
eliminate this problem by mentoring women deliberately and effectively.
Traditional notions of mentoring are modeled on male-to-male
relationships, yet women often report a desire for mentoring that
addresses their interpersonal needs. Women want mentors who not only
understand this, but truly honor it. Coauthors W. Brad Johnson and David
G. Smith present a straightforward, no-nonsense manual for men working
in all types of institutions, organizations, and businesses to become
excellent mentors to women, because as women succeed, lean in, and
assume leading roles in any organization or work context, the culture
will become more egalitarian, effective, and prone to retaining top
talent.
