But the same thing can happen when men mentor men and women mentor women. Certainly, a woman needs to be aware of any sexual messages given by the mentor. If they can't be deflected, she must get out of the relationship as gracefully and as quickly as possible. If help is needed to end the relationship, someone who is familiar with sexual-harassment issues can be helpful. A more frequent disadvantage for women being mentored by men are the innuendoes about the relationship from people who find it hard to believe that any relationship between a man and woman is not sexual.
Men are better mentors for women.
This is partially true, to the extent that men are more likely to be powerful people and thus able to open more doors. But at least one study has shown that male mentors were more likely to direct their protegees and therefore to be disappointed if they did not follow their advice. Also, male mentors may be largely work-focused and ignore personal issues that affect those with whom they are working, while women mentors often show interest in both the personal and professional lives of their students. The mentor always knows best . As the protegee grows and develops professional stature, the mentor may find it difficult to let go or move to a more collegial relationship, thus increasing the likelihood that the protegee's development will be stifled or that a breach will occur.