Are Males Generally Afraid to Reveal that they (we) have Female Mentors/Role Models?

There are some females who I consider "heroes" in my life and role models, but it's true I'm a bit embarrassed to go around talking about them with my parents or sisters for some unknown reason. That doesn't mean I don't talk about them; it just means I'm self-conscious about it, particularly when it comes to discussing them with someone over whom I've bonded with such figures as Hemingway or John Houston, etc...

But I have them and they have inspired and pushed me to be my best just as much as anyone, and they tend to (in my case) be athletes, musicians and spiritual teachers, although they are in all walks of life.

But I do think it is strange: the male friends I've had over the past two decades never talk about the females that have influenced them. I can't think of a single instance.

Why are we so shy to discuss this?

Just wondering.

Some of my heroines:

bell hooks:


Naomi Wolf:


Michelle Obama:


My wife:


And many more!

I even had a very strange dream in which the First Lady comforted me after my father was released from the hospital from stem cell transplant. It was from out of nowhere. I'd never had a dream about her in my life, but she just cradled my head on a flight of steps. It was so odd.

She explained a lot about the job and the players, developed stuff together, engaged in political battles together, and had personal advice to. She's moved up and out but remains a good friend. In this day and age, mentors - great ones - can be male or female. So can crappy bosses as it turns out.

:shrug:

:dunce:

:-)

What do you mean we, Kemosabe?

One of my mentors was the organist in the church I attended. She spotted my voice somehow in the crowd, and worked with me for several years to develop it. Along the way, I got lots of good life advice, organ lessons, and an introduction to an organ builder, for whom I worked a couple of summers.

All this was freely given by this kind loving woman. I have no idea why, but she taught me an awful lot, and helped an awkward teenager to discover a talent.

Most of us under 40 had only female role models and authority figures as children. I don't know that there's any shame to discuss this.

Hopefully she will keep teaching me things. Yesterday I learned that if I spray my trees with diatomaceous earth the Japanese beetles sans Yoko will face their extinction. So I missed my search and destroy routine through the rose garden this morning as not a one remained! And I was sad for them. I never meant to get them all.

Now Father Time could teach me a lot slower, if you know what I mean.

Well, the first half of my life I spent playing football and serving in th military. All of my "mentors" were dudes. Now I work for SSA, an agency that is 70% women. Most of the people who guide me at work are still males, but I want to give a shout out to my director (a woman), who is always there to help me out. Heck, I need to stay in her good graces, she is my ticket to the next GS pay scale!

I'm not. A role model/mentor is a role model no matter what the gender. It's hard to believe that some people might be hung up about something like in this day and age. But then again, I thought that homophobia/anti-gay bigotry would've been extinct by now too, so................:shrug:

I don't think I've ever been shy about naming female heroes, mentors or role models of mine. But I do think I'm more likely to have those sorts of relationships with men. I can only name three or four women, but closer to ten men, who took me "under their wing" in my professional life.