Exploring the Pygmalion Phenomenon in a Male-Centric Industry and Developing a Model of Female Career Progression

Abstract

This paper explores the relationship between the Pygmalion Effect and female career progression. The data was collected from sales representatives in the real estate sector in Pakistan through semi-structured interviews. Data was analyzed using Quirkos 2.5.3. The results of thematic analysis revealed that male employees received preferential treatment due to their perceived self-efficacy, leading managers to invest more in their development, which can be linked to the Pygmalion Effect. In contrast, female employees did not receive the same treatment within the real estate sector. The findings recommend that top management in the real estate sector should maintain similar interactions with all employees, regardless of their gender, to avoid sub-group formation. Conducting exit interviews with female employees can help identify underlying issues that contribute to their departure from organizations. This paper fills a gap in the existing literature by developing a model for understanding the role of the Pygmalion Effect in female career progression.