Abstract
This article reports on a key finding of a phenomenological study on the mentoring experiences of women faculty. The study revealed the political climate of the organization as an essential attribute of this experience. Women faculty identified organizational culture and gender issues that affected the mentoring they received. This study suggests the need for human resource and organization development initiatives to facilitate the provision of academic mentoring for women faculty—individually, departmentally, and culturally—as a means to foster transformation and change in academic institutions.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
A study on the status of women faculty in science at MIT. (1999). MIT Faculty Newsletter, XI(4), 1–12. Retrieved April 30, 2000, from http://web.mit.edu/fnl/ women/women.html
Aisenberg, N., & Harrington, M. (1988). Women of academe: Outsiders in the sacred grove. Amherst, MA: The University of Massachusetts Press.
Angelique, H., Kyle, K., & Taylor, E. (2002). Mentors and muses: New strategies for academic success. Innovative Higher Education, 26, 195–209.
Bentley. R. J., & Blackburn, R. T. (1992). Two decades of gain for female faculty? Teachers College Record, 93, 697–709.
Bloom, M. (1995). Multiple roles of the mentor supporting women's adult development. In K. Taylor & C. Marienau (Eds.), Learning environments for women's adult development: Bridges toward change (Vol. 65, pp. 63–72). New directions for adult and continuing education. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
Boyce, M. E. (2003). Organizational learning is essential to achieving and sustaining change in higher education. Innovative Higher Education, 28, 119– 136.
Boyle, P., & Boice, B. (1998). Systematic mentoring for new faculty teachers and graduate teaching assistants. Innovative Higher Education, 22, 157–179.
Brennan, M. (2000). Mentoring tenured women chemists. Chemical and Engineering News, 78(36), 46–47.
Buck, J. M., & Watson, J. L. (2002). Retaining staff employees: The relationship between human resource management strategies and organizational commitment. Innovative Higher Education, 26, 175–193.
Cummings, T. G., & Worley, C. G. (2005). Organization development and change (8th ed.). Mason, OH: South-Western College Publishing.
Dahlberg, K., & Drew, N. (1997). A lifeworld paradigm for nursing research. Journal of Holistic Nursing, 15, 303–317.
Gerdes, E. P. (2003). Do it your way: Advice from senior academic women. Innovative Higher Education, 27, 253–275.
Gibson, S. K. (2004). Being mentored: The experience of women faculty. Journal of Career Development, 30, 173–188.
Gibson, S. K., & Hanes, L. A. (2003). The contribution of phenomenology to HRD research. Human Resource Development Review, 2, 181–205.
Gilligan, C. (1982). In a different voice: Psychological theory and women's development. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.
Glazer-Raymo, J. (1999). Shattering the myths: Women in academe. Baltimore, MD: Johns Hopkins University Press.
Hamrick, F. A. (1998, April). “I have work to do”: Affirmation and marginalization of women full professors. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association, San Diego, CA. (ERIC Document Reproduction Service ED 420 251)
Hensel, N. (1991). Realizing gender equality in higher education: The need to integrate work/family issues. (ASHE-ERIC Higher Education Report 2). Washington, DC: Office of Educational Research and Improvement.
Hopkins, N. (1999, June 11). MIT and gender bias: Following up on victory. The Chronicle of Higher Education, 45(40), B4–B5.
Jackson, W. K., & Simpson, R. D. (1994). Mentoring new faculty for teaching and research. In M. A. Wunsch (Ed.), Mentoring revisited: Making an impact on individuals and institutions, New directions for teaching and learning (Vol. 57, pp. 65–72). San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
Johnsrud, L. K. (1991). Mentoring between academic women: The capacity for interdependence. Initiatives, 54(3), 7–17.
Latta, G. F. (2005, February). “First break all the rules” of the Academy: Adapting Gallup's corporate tools of engagement for higher education. Paper presented at the Academy of Human Resource Development Research Conference, Estes Park, CO.
McDonald, K. S., & Hite, L. M. (1998). Human resource development's role in women's career progress. In L. L. Bierema (Ed.), Women's career development across the lifespan: Insights and strategies for women, organizations, and adult educators. New directions for adult and continuing education (Vol. 80, pp. 53–62). San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
Rabasca, L. (2000). In search of equity. Monitor on Psychology, 10, 1–3. Retrieved August 16, 2004, from http://www.apa.org/monitor/nov00/equality.html
Rios, A., & Longnion, J. (2000). Agenda for the 21st century: Executive summary. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota, National Initiative for Women in Higher Education. Retrieved September 7, 2000, from http://www.umn.edu/women/wihe.html
Ruona, W. E. A., & Gibson, S. K. (2004). The making of 21st century HR: An analysis of the convergence of HRM, HRD, and OD.
Smith, J. W., Smith, W. J., & Markham, S. E. (2000). Diversity issues in mentoring academic faculty. Journal of Career Development, 26, 251–262.
Smith, J. O., Whitman, J. S., Grant, P.A., Stanutz, A., Russett, J. A., & Rankin, K. (2001). Peer networking as a dynamic approach to supporting new faculty. Innovative Higher Education, 25, 197–207.
Social change requires academic women's leadership. (2000, June). Women in Higher Education, 9(6), 1–2.
Swanson, R. A., & Holton, E. F. (2001). Foundations of human resource development. San Francisco: Berrett-Koehler.
Torraco, R. J., Hoover, R. E., & Knippelmeyer, S. A. (2005). Organization development and change in universities. In M. L. Morris & F. M. Nafukho (Eds.), Proceedings of the Academy of Human Resource Development Research Conference (pp. 858–865). Bowling Green, OH: AHRD.
U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics. (2002). The gender and racial/ethnic composition of postsecondary instructional faculty and staff, 1992–98 (NCES2002–160), Washington, DC.
van Manen, M. (1997). Researching lived experience (2nd ed.). London: Althouse Press.
Wanberg, C. R., Welsh, E. T., & Hezlett, S. (2003). Mentoring research: A review and dynamic process model. In G. R. Ferris (Ed.), Research in personnel and human resource management (Vol. 22, pp. 39–124). Oxford: Elsevier.
Wenger, E. C., & Snyder, W. M. (2000). Communities of practice: The organizational frontier. Harvard Business Review, 78, 139–145.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Sharon K. Gibson is an Assistant Professor of organization learning and development at the University of St. Thomas. She received her Ph.D. in adult education from the University of Minnesota. She holds an M.S.W. degree and graduate certificate in labor and industrial relations from the University of Michigan and a B.S. from Cornell University. Her research interests focus on developmental relationships including mentoring and coaching, strategic human resource and organization development, and adult learning.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Gibson, S.K. Mentoring of Women Faculty: The Role of Organizational Politics and Culture. Innov High Educ 31, 63–79 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10755-006-9007-7
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10755-006-9007-7