Feminist Co-Mentoring as Advocacy

Abstract

This chapter serves as a case study describing three science, technology, engineering, and mathematics librarians' processes, reflections, and growth through co-mentorship. The authors discuss the processes and limitations of traditional, hierarchical mentorship structures in academic libraries and outline their work moving beyond this model to create and maintain a feminist co-mentorship community. The peer mentorship model is intentionally non-hierarchical and works as a complementary support system alongside formal mentorship relationships. They outline the benefits of this model, which include the provision of support around the emotional labor inherent in working in higher education, balancing professional and personal growth, and navigating the academic landscape. This chapter lays the foundational work the authors undertook to develop their co-mentorship group and community of care and addresses the practical benefits of this work in each of their lives.