Making sense of mentoring or mentoring making sense? Reflections on the mentoring process by adult mentors with young people

Abstract

This paper sets out to look at the processes of mentoring from the perspectives of adult mentors who were interviewed as part of a wider study of young people's perceptions and understandings of informal mentoring processes. It seeks to clarify the processes of mentoring within the context of the ‘risk society’ by posing the question, how do young people and mentors perceive these processes? What do mentors get out of the mentoring relationship? Findings from a qualitative study of informal mentoring relationships are drawn on to suggest that the mentors perceive the experience of being identified as a mentor and the processes of mentoring in highly positive terms. It is argued that this provides a form of ‘cultural capital for mentors’ in helping them to make sense of the challenges and dilemmas they face as adults. It is concluded that this finding has important implications for the design of mentoring interventions with young people. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Exploring the experiences of ex-offender mentors

“…These findings were present in the majority of the interviews and are similar to comments made by non-offender adults mentoring adolescents (Philip and Hendry, 2000) about feeling 'exceptional', implying that mentoring had given them a heightened feeling of superiority.…”

Exploring the experiences of ex-offender mentors

“…These findings were present in the majority of the interviews and are similar to comments made by non-offender adults mentoring adolescents (Philip and Hendry, 2000) about feeling 'exceptional', implying that mentoring had given them a heightened feeling of superiority.…”

Mentoring College Students: A Critical Review of the Literature Between 1990 and 2007

“…For instance, Philip and Hendry (2000) have identified five types of naturally occurring mentoring relationships adolescents and young adults may experience including: classic mentoring (one-on-one relationship between experienced adult and a younger person, similar to an apprentice), individual-team (young group of people look to an individual or a few individuals for advice), friend-to-friend (provides a safety net, common among women friends), peer-group (among a group of friends, often when exploring an issue), and longterm relationships with ''risk taking'' adults (similar to classic mentoring, but the person being mentored has a history of rebellion).…”

Exploring the benefits of mentoring activities for the mentor

“…First, contrary to the account given by Philip and Hendry (2000), it may be possible that far from building up social capital by promoting the career of the protégé, the mentor runs the risk of over-soliciting his contacts within the organisation at his own personal cost. This explanation makes sense in the French context.…”

Exploring the experiences of ex-offender mentors

“…These findings were present in the majority of the interviews and are similar to comments made by non-offender adults mentoring adolescents (Philip and Hendry, 2000) about feeling 'exceptional', implying that mentoring had given them a heightened feeling of superiority.…”

Mentoring College Students: A Critical Review of the Literature Between 1990 and 2007

“…For instance, Philip and Hendry (2000) have identified five types of naturally occurring mentoring relationships adolescents and young adults may experience including: classic mentoring (one-on-one relationship between experienced adult and a younger person, similar to an apprentice), individual-team (young group of people look to an individual or a few individuals for advice), friend-to-friend (provides a safety net, common among women friends), peer-group (among a group of friends, often when exploring an issue), and longterm relationships with ''risk taking'' adults (similar to classic mentoring, but the person being mentored has a history of rebellion).…”

Exploring the benefits of mentoring activities for the mentor

“…First, contrary to the account given by Philip and Hendry (2000), it may be possible that far from building up social capital by promoting the career of the protégé, the mentor runs the risk of over-soliciting his contacts within the organisation at his own personal cost. This explanation makes sense in the French context.…”

Exploring the experiences of ex-offender mentors

“…These findings were present in the majority of the interviews and are similar to comments made by non-offender adults mentoring adolescents (Philip and Hendry, 2000) about feeling 'exceptional', implying that mentoring had given them a heightened feeling of superiority.…”

Mentoring College Students: A Critical Review of the Literature Between 1990 and 2007

“…For instance, Philip and Hendry (2000) have identified five types of naturally occurring mentoring relationships adolescents and young adults may experience including: classic mentoring (one-on-one relationship between experienced adult and a younger person, similar to an apprentice), individual-team (young group of people look to an individual or a few individuals for advice), friend-to-friend (provides a safety net, common among women friends), peer-group (among a group of friends, often when exploring an issue), and longterm relationships with ''risk taking'' adults (similar to classic mentoring, but the person being mentored has a history of rebellion).…”

Exploring the benefits of mentoring activities for the mentor

“…First, contrary to the account given by Philip and Hendry (2000), it may be possible that far from building up social capital by promoting the career of the protégé, the mentor runs the risk of over-soliciting his contacts within the organisation at his own personal cost. This explanation makes sense in the French context.…”