Up the Chain: Gendered Mentoring in the U.S. Army
Abstract
For careers in public service, meritocracy is espoused and idealized with formal structures for advancement. However, career development is also relational. Scholars have long discussed the benefits of mentoring both for psychosocial support and career advancement in organizations. While mentoring is recognized as important for career advancement, less is known about the nature of mentoring in male-dominated public sector organizations. In this paper we explore how mentoring functions in the U.S. Army—a male-dominated public service organization. Using data from a mixed method study, including survey data from approximately 1,200 Army personnel and analysis of 27 focus groups with 198 participants, we find that mentoring quality matters for all employees, but it matters more for women. We also find that mentoring is gendered, shaping the career trajectories of women and men in different ways.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Pub Defense Publication
- Publication Date
- Feb 21, 2022
- Source ID
- 10.1177/0734371x221076770
Entities
People
- Alesha Doan
- Amy E. Smith
- Shannon Portillo
Organizations
- U.S. Army Research Institute for the Behavioral and Social Sciences
- University of Kansas
- University of Massachusetts Boston