WHAT MATTERS! PREFERENCE OR ELIGIBILITY? EXAMINING AGENTIC AND COMMUNAL TRAITS ASSOCIATED WITH GENDER, EMPLOYMENT STATUS AND HIERARCHY

This research investigated a common phenomenon that men and women are tagged with different qualities, usually stereotyped by gender, employment, and hierarchy. The study aims to investigate whether gender, according to the respective norms, employment statuses and hierarchical levels tend to display communal/ agentic traits in the higher education sector of Lahore, Pakistan. The survey research employed a quantitative method in a cross-sectional setting by employing a self-administered questionnaire. The results showed a difference/ relation between agency with relevance to gender and hierarchy but not employment status as contrasted to communality. The study also presented insights regarding organizational structure, gender and leadership qualities in professional employees.