The Androgynous Mentor: bridging gender stereotypes in mentoring

This paper explores the possibility that a suitable mix of instrumental and expressive personality traits‐the concept of psychological androgyny — are required to allow a complete mentoring relationship. The discussion seeks a solution to a mentoring paradox which arises from the argument that instrumentality is necessary in reaching positions of influence, power, authority and experience ‐from which pool mentors may be selected in organisations ‐yet expressiveness as necessary for mentoring behaviour. A comment on research into mentoring and psychological androgyny is offered, and this concept is discussed in regard to the experienced mentor combining such instrumental and expressive personality traits. A review of the literature on gender and mentoring is also offered and reveals several causes for concern. However, such literature rarely focuses upon what both genders can do. This paper offers the hypothesis that the experienced mentor will be androgynous‐thus being able to display both instrumentality and expressiveness according to situation‐specific demands.