Power-Conscious Doctoral Advising: Reenvisioning Mentorship in the Era of MeToo

• In Event: Marriott Roundtable Session 17
  In Roundtable Session: Advising, Mentoring, and Building Relationships in Graduate Education

Abstract

In this paper, we argue that the role of power in doctoral advising and mentorship needs to be reassessed with a critical framing. While a substantial volume of research has focused on advising outcomes, perceptions and experiences of mentorship, and even critiques, suggestions for addressing this imbalance continue to focus on individual remediation rather than an examination of systems of advising. We suggest that a power-conscious framework, which targets both the symptoms and roots of oppressive practices, could offer a more systemic view of doctoral advising and to create networks of support rather than hierarchical power relationships.

Authors

• Rachel Friedensen, St Cloud State University

• Genia Bettencourt, The University of Memphis