“Gilligan contends that ‘relationships between girls and adult women may be particularly critical during the transition into adolescence” because girls at this juncture are eager to “seek out and listen attentively to advice from women” (p.6)”
-Rhodes,Davis,Prescott & Spencer, 2007, p. 143

I found this reading to be personally relevant. I in my higher education career have been constantly hoping for a mentor to appear to me, perhaps with a clear sign that they are the person destined to be my mentor. When I hear adults speak highly of their mentors, I long for this relationship in my own life. However, I have found that a mentor does not just choose you and perhaps I need to do more of the seeking out myself. The text states that “mentors, who are well positioned to offer guidance and growth-promoting challenges as girls strive to develop their full potential, may be particularly important” (143).

I personally have yet to feel I’ve met my full potential and find myself frequently seeking external validation. I need or think I need others to tell me I’m doing well in order to believe that I am. It seems that I am not alone on this struggle as ,”it is unclear…how natural mentoring relationships are initiated and maintained” (150). Even in a volunteer organization where mentors do not occur naturally, mentees can find that their mentor’s experience do not match their own due to class or racial differences. It seems that developing an authentic, “natural” mentor relationship is the most effective. I think that as urban educators this is important to note. Despite our best intentions, our own experiences will not always match those of our students. We must be aware of these differences and not seek to always be able to fully understand our students’ experiences. To conclude, I feel female adolescents need mentors. Girls in particular struggle with female friendships in adolescence and having a positive female role model and mentor could encourage them to develop positive female friendships, potentially making a lasting impact on their lives.