Abstract
Largely as a consequence of the recent interest in the educational and occupational experiences of women, a well‐known but long overlooked form of social interaction–the mentor‐protégé relationship–is now receiving some attention. This concern usually views the relationship as a highly beneficial one. However, virtually no sociological analysis has been made of this phenomenon.This article provides a sociological conceptualization of the mentor‐protégé relationship as a power‐dependent, dyadic role set with a strong potential for role strain. Additional consideration is given to gender problems in mentor‐protégé relationships.

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