LE3 .A278 2022

2022

Sweatman, Mary

Acadia University

Bachelor of Community Development

Honours

Community Development

Community Development

There have been many critiques of traditional mentorship models, which have often been found in patriarchal, and neoliberal contexts. Using a feminist mentorship framework is one method for addressing the concerns associated with these other frameworks of mentoring, such as traditional models of mentorship and relational models of mentorship. However, little empirical research has been done to assess the impacts of a feminist mentorship framework. This study examines a feminist mentorship program that was implemented within a department at a small undergraduate university in Atlantic Canada. The purpose of this study was to (1) move beyond theorization about the impacts of the mentorship program by studying a feminist mentorship program that had been put into practice, (2) examine the impacts, both positive and negative, that a feminist mentorship program had on program participants, and (3) look at the impacts that a feminist mentorship program has on the surrounding communities. A combination of surveys and focus groups were used to collect data. The results indicate that this mentorship program influenced participants on an academic, relational and personal level. While impacts were mostly positive, some participants did report negative impacts, such as added stress. Additionally, although impacts on the surrounding community were reportedly minimal, participants did hypothesis that once this mentorship becomes more established, there would be more potential for community impacts. This study found that using a Feminist Mentorship Framework has the capacity to add value to the experiences of students. Program modifications and future possibilities to explore are discussed.

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https://scholar.acadiau.ca/islandora/object/theses:3784