Not all Women in Leadership and Management Positions Exhibit “Queen Bee Behaviour”

Abstract

The Queen Bee Syndrome, a term used to describe the situation where senior women in leadership and management positions exhibit hostile behavior that can impede the career progression of other women. But the literature suggests that the situation cannot be generalized. In order to gain a more profound insight into this perspectives, semi-structured interviews were carried out with 48 women occupying diverse roles within public sector universities in Pakistan, The analysis of the collected data revealed multiple themes, indicating that this phenomenon is indeed not universally prevalent. Some women in leadership roles actively support and mentor their female counterparts. Which in turn facilitated their professional growth and advancement opportunities. This supportive behavior exhibited by female executives presents a positive example of role models for empowering women and enhances the aspirations of other women. These findings bear significant relevance for both organizations and individuals striving to promote gender equality and foster inclusive work environments.