Gender Differences in Career Helping Relationships

Abstract

This study explored differences regarding the way in which male and female faculty members described relationships with those whom they identified as “career helpers.” Data for this naturalistic study were transcripts of interviews with 27 male and 27 female faculty members at three different institutions. Qualitative analysis of the interviews indicated gender differences on two themes: sense of professional self as related to career helpers and the nature of assistance received from them. Implications of these results for career development practice and research are described.