Protegides

Protegides is a form that appears in discussions of mentorship and patronage to refer to female protégés. In standard Spanish, the feminine plural is protegidas, and protegidos is used for masculine or mixed groups. Some authors and institutions adopt protegides as a gender‑inclusive plural form of protegide, but this usage is not universal and may be considered nonstandard in many contexts. The root protegide is built from proteger, meaning to protect, and reflects the sense of being under someone’s protection or sponsorship.

A protegide is a person who receives protection, guidance, or mentorship from a more experienced individual or organization. In professional, artistic, academic, or political settings, protegides gain access to advice, networks, training opportunities, and advocacy. The relationship is typically characterized by a mentor or sponsor offering support in exchange for commitment, progress, or loyalty; it can be formal through a program or informal through personal patronage.

In practice, the concept aligns with the English terms protégé or protégée and with the broader idea of mentorship or sponsorship. In Spanish-language material, writers usually use protegidos or protegidas for masculine and feminine plurals, or employ inclusive spellings where appropriate. The English variant protégé is more common outside Spanish-speaking contexts, and mentee is a widely used neutral alternative in many languages.

See also: Protégé, Mentorship, Patronage, Sponsorship.