THE POWER OF MENTORING FOR WOMEN IN GEOLOGY

Mentoring is invaluable for both student and advisor by enhancing the academic experience and leading to a higher rate of retention and success. In geology, women mentoring other women is unique and can result in a richer experience for both. Despite the perception of equality, there are barriers women in geology must overcome that their male colleagues do not. These barriers include institutional discrimination, gender bias, and stereotyping. For example, institutional discrimination historically restricted women’s access to an education. Currently, women enter college in equal numbers to men yet the number of women employed in geology related fields is lower. Today, women must still overcome biases that have persisted throughout history. Mentoring is an effective way to help women overcome these barriers.

Students find mentoring beneficial, but mentors also experience rich and sometimes unexpected benefits. From my personal experience the relationship that develops from mentoring female students has provided a support system to overcome the biases that exist. These experiences have left me with a sense of achievement and pride while improving my communication and leadership skills and helping me to overcome stress and depression while being bullied and harassed on the job. Many of my mentoring sessions with women students take place in the most unexpected places such as in the field, around a campfire, or over dinner. During these sessions, discussions may include strategies for overcoming the pressures felt when stepping away from the traditional caregiver role or the biases experienced in the classroom from male peers and faculty. These informal sessions have resulted in many of my women mentees developing confidence to pursue graduate studies or effectively participate in a competitive job market. As a role model for many women students, I strive to set an example so that they learn from my struggles to overcome barriers and are inspired by my achievements to persevere in the imperfect world of academia. Mentoring provides women with the resources and tools to address discrimination and gender biases. These invaluable opportunities gained from women mentors help to increase women’s effective participation in geology and will hopefully eliminate the barriers that exist.