WALLS ALL AROUND: DEVELOPMENTS IN THE GENDER AND LEADERSHIP IN PAKISTAN

Rafia Faiz; Safia Bano; Amna Asif

Rafia Faiz Institute of Business Administration, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan
Safia Bano Institute of Business Administration, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan
Amna Asif Institute of Business Administration, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan

Keywords: Culture, Gender, Leadership, Interviews, Pakistan

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is twofold: it first addresses how gender affects leadership, and then examines the societal, organizational, family and individual challenges experienced by male and female leaders in Pakistan. Using a research map, ten interviews are conducted with key informants, i.e, men and women at top leadership positions in various organizations of Pakistan. Based on thematic analysis in QSR NVivo, we came to the conclusion that there is a scope of breaking stereotypes related to gender in order to give more empowerment to the women to unleash their leadership potentials. As a leader, women are equally capable to get the work done by their subordinates and exercising their authority to achieve the personal and organizational goals but their capacities is contained by the society of Pakistan. The findings of this paper establish the indigenous conceptualization (Three M’s) of gender in leadership in Pakistani society that is mental-block, matriarchy and masculinization.