Professors as Models and Mentors for College Students

A questionnaire study among sophomores and seniors in five coeducational and one women’s liberal arts college provided the data for this research. A return rate of 66% was achieved, yielding 723 subjects, all of whom were able to identify a professor who had demonstrated the kinds of qualities and skills they considered important for themselves. The results show that female students neither gravitate toward nor avoid female role models. They choose female faculty as models to the extent that women are available on campus. Men on the other hand, avoid female models. They prefer high status, powerful male models who can promote their educational or career goals. Women, especially those choosing female models, look for the information that it is possible to combine a rewarding professional and family life. The responses of female and male students showed many more similarities than differences in the amount and nature of contact with models, mentoring performed by models, and modeling influences. Sex differences in the impact of models related to the type of college women attended. Women at the single sex college with male models were found to be academically most successful, felt more successful relative to their male and female peers, and more of these women planned to attend a graduate or professional school than any other group.