Women Scientists as Mentors and Role Models

Abstract

Terms that recur frequently in our discussions and in responses to our questionnaires are “mentor” and (especially among women respondents) “role model.” Mentors, in the best and broadest sense of the word, can be critically essential to the career development of protégés. In the words of Niki Scott in her syndicated column, Working Woman ¹: “Mentors hold the signposts for us on our journeys toward competence, assertiveness, and self-esteem....” They assume responsibility for imprinting the essential components of science—its history, traditions, ethics, value systems, approaches to thinking, analytical methods, evaluation criteria, publication guidelines—all the factors that are important to the continuity of science and the achievement of success in a chosen field.

Duties and responsibilities of mentors; intrusions of personal considerations into mentor-protégé relationships; the value and scarcity of female role models; the negative role model.