Paradoxes of Mentoring: An Ethnographic Study of a Mentoring Programme for Highly-educated Women with Migrant Backgrounds

Abstract

This article explores paradoxes that emerge in the mentoring of highly-educated, female, foreign-born job-seekers in Finland. Theoretically, the study is linked to the growing body of research scrutinising the integration or discrimination of migrants in working life. It analyses cultural practices and ideas that are visible and affect the mentoring interaction. On a more practical level, the paper determines how the mentors and mentees experience the mentoring, and how intercultural mentoring could be improved in order to promote mentees’ employment. The article is based on ethnography and 11 semi-structured interviews.
 Two major paradoxes and their links to cultural meanings were identified: the over-emphasised focus on Finnish language (the language paradox), and the myth of the strong Finnish woman (the support paradox). These can be seen as having aspects of both cultural awareness and situation-specific awareness. Using situation-specific awareness, some mentors understood the best way forward was to break the rules of the mentoring programme and not to use Finnish in all communication. This enabled a more equal setting for professional discussions. In some rare cases, when the mentors did not use situation-specific awareness, a vicious circle emerged and mentees felt even worse about their abilities and working life opportunities. Similarly, although the myth of the strong Finnish woman can be an empowering and positive model for the mentee, it can have a negative impact on the mentor, enabling undercurrents in the mentoring discussions which can be experienced as harsh and even hostile. This, instead of encouraging and supporting, can result in the undermining and ‘othering’ of the mentee.

What Enables Skilled Immigrant Women to Build Career-important Social Networks?

“…(Elena, data management specialist, IT). The women's experience of the importance of the mentoring relationship is in line with previous studies (e.g., Calinaud et al, 2021;Steel et al, 2019). Even though formal mentoring programs have been recommended in the research so that access to fruitful career-related networks is easier, the women interviewed in this study stressed that the tie with a supervisor, one that begins informally at the supervisor's initiative, was very useful to them.…”

“…Even though formal mentoring programs have been recommended in the research so that access to fruitful career-related networks is easier, the women interviewed in this study stressed that the tie with a supervisor, one that begins informally at the supervisor's initiative, was very useful to them. A reason for this result might be that the interviewees located the supervisor's role as related to everyday work practices in the workplace, while in previous literature (e.g., Steel et al, 2019) the focus has been on the employability of immigrant women before entering labor market. So, the respondents here experienced informal mentorship with their supervisor as advantageous during the post-migration phase, particularly at the early and middle phases of their career when the women already had a workplace as well as a current and prospective career on their hands.…”

“…Prior studies have shown that skilled immigrant women face various barriers in accessing career-important networks due to subtle discrimination, incivility, and microaggressions (Calinaud et al, 2021;Schultheiss, 2021). To address this issue, scholars have recommended, for instance, mentoring programs to support the women's careers (Calinaud et al, 2021;Steel et al, 2019). In general, classic studies on social networks in organizational life from a gender viewpoint (e.g., Burt, 1998;Ibarra, 1992;Kanter, 1977) show that women come across challenges in having access to influential male networks in working life.…”

“…Co-ethnic networks are important in the early phase of migration (Ahmad, 2011), though their importance diminishes shortly after arrival (Gill & Bialski, 2011). Many studies have focused on the women's networks during the early stages of their career (Ahmad, 2011;Colakoglu, Yunlu, & Arman, 2018;McNulty & Brewster, 2019;Steel et al, 2019;Van den Bergh & Du Plessi, 2012).…”

Pelo buraco da fechadura - estudo etnográfico de um grupo de mentoria na escola médica

“…Pesquisas em mentoria concentram-se na descrição dos objetivos e da dinâmica de diferentes iniciativas [9][10][11][12] e buscam avaliar o impacto nos alunos 13,14 , nos mentores 15 e nas escolas 16 . Poucos estudos foram dedicados a compreender a relação de mentoria em si [17][18][19][20] e, raramente, o processo de mentoria durante o desenvolvimento da relação 21,22 .…”