Women, Occupational Advancement, and Mentoring: An Analysis of One Public Organization

Abstract

Research on mentoring has been primarily concerned with impacts on career development. Most studies have concluded that mentoring is advantageous to a person's career. ' Indeed, one prominent study argues that Everyone Who Makes It Has a Mentor.2 Other authors approach the topic more guardedly, however, indicating that empirical evidence leaves room for doubt and that mentoring needs to be more fully developed before its effects can be understood.3 Mentoring has received some attention as one tool to facilitate career advancement of women.4 If mentoring is a useful device, problems which are unique to women need to be confronted in its use. In addition to developing their credentials and abilities to perform effectively within a work organization, women must overcome other obstacles to career advancement. These include:5