Athena Rising: How and Why Men Should Mentor Women

by W. Brad Johnson, David G. Smith

Overview

When it comes to mentoring, women face more barriers than men. Here's how men can help change that.

Increasingly, new employees and junior members of any profession are encouraged—sometimes stridently—to "find a mentor!" Four decades of research reveals that the effects of mentorship can be profound and enduring; strong mentoring relationships have the capacity to transform individuals and entire organizations.

But the mentoring landscape is unequal. Evidence consistently shows that women face more barriers in securing mentorships than men, and when they do find a mentor, they may reap a narrow range of both professional and psychological benefits. Athena Rising is a book for men about how to eliminate this problem by mentoring women deliberately and effectively.

Traditional notions of mentoring are modeled on male-to-male relationships, yet women often report a desire for mentoring that addresses their interpersonal needs. Women want mentors who not only understand this, but truly honor it. Coauthors W. Brad Johnson and David G. Smith present a straightforward, no-nonsense manual for men working in all types of institutions, organizations, and businesses to become excellent mentors to women, because as women succeed, lean in, and assume leading roles in any organization or work context, the culture will become more egalitarian, effective, and prone to retaining top talent.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781633699458
Publisher:	Harvard Business Review Press
Publication date:	12/03/2019
Pages:	232
Product dimensions:	6.40(w) x 9.30(h) x 0.90(d)

About the Author

W. Brad Johnson, PhD, is professor of psychology in the department of Leadership, Ethics, and Law at the United States Naval Academy and a faculty associate in the Graduate School of Education at Johns Hopkins University. He is a fellow of the American Psychological Association and recipient of the Johns Hopkins UniversityTeaching Excellence Award. Dr. Johnson is the author of more than 100 journal articles and book chapters—many on the topic of mentoring—and 13 books, in the areas of mentoring, professional ethics, and counseling.

David G. Smith, PhD, is an active-duty U.S. Navy Captain and associate professor of sociology in the department of Leadership, Ethics, and Law at the United States Naval Academy. As a sociologist trained in military sociology and social psychology, he focuses his research on gender, work, and family issues including dual-career families, military families, women in the military, and retention of women. Dr. Smith is the author of numerous journal articles and book chapters, many on the topic of gender and the workplace.

You can find W. Brad Johnson and David G. Smith at wbradjohnson.com and davidgsmithphd.com.

Table of Contents

Foreword Betsy Myers ix

Preface xiii

Part I Background Intel

1 The Everyday Athena 3

2 How Women Struggle at Work: Let Us Count the Ways 13

3 The Reluctant Male: Why Men Avoid Mentoring Women 23

4 The Biology and Psychology of Men and Women in Relationships: Becoming a Thoughtful Caveman 31

5 A Few Good Men: Why Men Should Mentor Women Well 41

Part II Mentoring Women: A Manual for Men

6 Preliminaries 53

7 Matters of Relationship 75

8 Matters of Professional Growth 99

9 Matters of Personal Growth 127

10 What Not to Do 145

Parting Thoughts 163

Acknowledgments 165

Notes 167

References 181

Index 195

About the Authors 205

Editorial Reviews

Praise for Athena Rising:

"Johnson and Smith hit a home run with this no-nonsense, timely guide that will benefit any man who wants to more effectively mentor or manage women in the workforce . . . Filled with useful advice and backed up by academic research, this handbook should be on every male business leader's reading list." — Publishers Weekly

"Through engaging insights from global leaders and practical tips for men, Smith and Johnson point out that when men are part of the solution—recognizing privilege and proactively championing gender equality within their organizations—that's when real change can occur." —Deborah Gillis, President and CEO, Catalyst

"Athena Rising is written in a captivating style while providing a practical, step-by-step mentoring implementation plan to advance female stars in the workplace. It should be a must-read for male executive training." — Louis Freeh, former director, FBI

"Finally, someone has tackled the central issue to women's advancement at work: why don't men champion female talent like they do for other men? Athena Rising answers that question and, through storytelling and research, inspires men to rethink their reluctance and mentor for the good of their female colleagues, their companies, and, ultimately, themselves."— Kat Gordon, founder, The 3% Movement

"A definitive, practical guide for every man who wants to work more effectively with women. This is a book guys didn't know we were waiting for, and it's finally here!" — Chuck Shelton, CEO, Greatheart Consulting

From the Publisher