Faculty research productivity at women’s universities through the lens of preference theory

Women’s universities are common in South Asian countries, such as Pakistan, where females are at a disadvantage. These universities are agencies of freedom for female academics, as they provide a favorable environment that enhances the performance of and opens doors for egalitarianism and prosperity for women. Nevertheless, research productivity among female academics remains an ongoing issue due to many factors, including multiple family and work responsibilities. An exploratory case study was conducted at one of the women’s universities in Pakistan to more closely explore this experience. In the current study, preference theory was used as a theoretical framework to explore female faculty’s research productivity while simultaneously meeting their family/work responsibilities. The study provides robust and promising observations, which have implications for academia, policy-makers, and scholars.