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FEMALE UNIVERSITY STUDENTS’ REFLECTIONS ON THEIR SOCIAL AND EDUCATIONAL FUTURE IN PAKISTAN
Corresponding Author(s) : Muhammad Ayub Buzdar
Humanities & Social Sciences Reviews,
Vol. 9 No. 2 (2021): March
Abstract
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the perceptions of female university students about their social and educational careers and factors that may promote or hinder their efforts to achieve their targets.
Method: Mixed method research design was followed to achieve the research objectives. Three thousand female university students were selected following a multiphase sampling technique to participate in the close-ended questionnaire that was used to collect the quantitative data in the first phase of data collection. Forty female students were randomly selected from the already selected pool of students in the second phase of data collection. An interview schedule was used to collect qualitative data from these 40 students. The qualitative data were analyzed with the help of NVivo following a thematic analysis approach
Main Findings: The results showed that the female university students are ready to move forward in their education and contribute effectively in the social spheres of life. Various educational, social, academic, and financial factors that hinder achieving their goals are also identified.
Applications of the Study: The results help to make educational activities more systematic, modern, and target-oriented.
Novelty/Originality of the Study: The activity contributes to identifying solutions to problems that are associated with the female students’ empowerment and engagement in social and economic activities.
Keywords
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- Abid, S., & Khan, B. (2017). Motivation, Challenges and Strategies in Pursuing Higher Education by Pakistani Women: A Qualitative Study. Bahria Journal of Professional Psychology, 16(2), 55–72.
- Anjum, G., Godil, A., & Sabater, A. (2019). Fear of Achievement Among Young Women in Urban Pakistan: A Phenomenological Analysis of Fear of Achievement (FOA). Cogent Social Sciences, 5(1), 1666620. https://doi.org/10.1080/23311886.2019.1666620
- Ali, R., Jumani, N. B., & Ejaz, S. (2015). Higher Education of Women in Pakistan: Promises, Achievements and Barriers. Pakistan Journal of Women’s Studies: Alam-I-Nisvan, 22(2), 59–75.
- Aslam, M., & Kingdon, G. G. (2008). Gender and household education expenditure in Pakistan. Applied Economics, 40(20), 2573–2591. https://doi.org/10.1080/00036840600970252
- Aziz, N., Ren, Y., Rong, K., & Zhou, J. (2021). Women’s empowerment in agriculture and household food insecurity: Evidence from Azad Jammu & Kashmir (AJK), Pakistan. Land Use Policy, 102, 105249. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landusepol.2020.105249
- Bayeh, E. (2016). The role of empowering women and achieving gender equality to the sustainable development of Ethiopia. Pacific Science Review B: Humanities and Social Sciences, 2(1), 37–42. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psrb.2016.09.013
- Buzdar, M. A., & Ali, A. (2011). Parents’ Attitude toward Daughters’ Education in Tribal Area of Dera Ghazi Khan (Pakistan). Turkish Online Journal of Qualitative Inquiry, 2(1), 16–23.
- Campbell, D. A. (2017). An Update on the United Nations Millennium Development Goals. Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic & Neonatal Nursing, 46(3), e48–e55. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jogn.2016.11.010
- Choudhry, A. N., Mutalib, R. A., & Ismail, N. S. A. (2019). Socio-Cultural factors affecting Women Economic Empowerment in Pakistan: A Situation Analysis. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, 9(5), 91–102. https://doi.org/10.6007/IJARBSS/v9-i5/5842
- Human Rights Watch. (2018). “Shall I Feed My Daughter, or Educate Her?†Barriers to Girls’ Education in Pakistan. Human Rights Watch. https://www.hrw.org/sites/default/files/report_pdf/pakistan1118_web2.pdf
- Imran, S., & Wyatt, M. (2019). Curriculum-Making and Development in a Pakistani University. The Qualitative Report, 24(10), 2506–2519.
- Khan, M. A., Kanwal, N., & Wang, L. (2018). Violent attacks on education in the tribal areas of Pakistan and the role of NGOs in providing educational services. Conflict, Security & Development, 18(2), 113–136. https://doi.org/10.1080/14678802.2018.1447861
- Khan, N., Amin, N., Kakli, M. B., Piracha, Z. F., & Zia, M. A. (2017). Pakistan Education Statistics: 2015-2016. Ministry of Federal Education & Professional Training. http://library.aepam.edu.pk/Books/Pakistan% 20Education%20Statistics%202015-16.pdf
- Kosec, K., Mo, C. H., Schmidt, E., & Song, J. (2021). Perceptions of relative deprivation and women’s empowerment. World Development, 138, 105218. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2020.105218
- Malik, S., & Courtney, K. (2011). Higher education and women’s empowerment in Pakistan. Gender and Education, 23(1), 29–45. https://doi.org/10.1080/09540251003674071
- Naseer, Z., Hu, H., Yaseen, M., & Tariq, M. (2021). Rural women empowerment through social protection programs: A case of Benazir income support programme in Punjab, Pakistan. Journal of the Saudi Society of Agricultural Sciences, 20(2), 67–74. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jssas.2020.11.005
- NEMIS-AEPAM. (2018). Pakistan Education Statistics 2016â€17. National Education Management Information System & Academy of Educational Planning and Management, Ministry of Federal Education & Professional Training, Government of Pakistan.
- Noureen, G. (2015). Education as a Prerequisite to Women’s Empowerment in Pakistan. Women’s Studies, 44(1), 1–22. https://doi.org/10.1080/00497878.2014.971215
- Purewal, N., & Hashmi, N. (2015). Between returns and respectability: parental attitudes towards girls’ education in rural Punjab, Pakistan. British Journal of Sociology of Education, 36(7), 977–995. https://doi.org/10.1080/01425692.2014.883274
- Sajjad, F., Christie, D. J., & Taylor, L. K. (2017). De-radicalizing Pakistani society: The receptivity of youth to a liberal religious worldview. Journal of Peace Education, 14(2), 195–214. https://doi.org/10.1080/17400201.2017.1304901
- Samarakoon, S., & Parinduri, R. A. (2015). Does Education Empower Women? Evidence from Indonesia. World Development, 66(Supplement C), 428–442. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2014.09.002
- Sarwar, A., & Imran, M. K. (2019). Exploring Women’s Multi-Level Career Prospects in Pakistan: Barriers, Interventions, and Outcomes. Frontiers in Psychology, 10, 1–19. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.01376
- Shaikh, E. K. Z., Taherani, D. A., Shah, D. P., & Baghal, G. U. (2015). Empirical Determinations of Female Enrolment Trends in Education Sector of Pakistan. The Women - Annual Research Journal of Gender Studies, 7(0). http://sujo-old.usindh.edu.pk/index.php/THE-WOMEN/article/view/888
- Shaukat, S., Siddiquah, A., & Pell, A. W. (2014). Gender Discrimination in Higher Education in Pakistan: A Survey of University Faculty. Eurasian Journal of Educational Research, 56, 1–24.
- Toor, S. (2007). Moral Regulation in a Postcolonial Nation-State. Interventions, 9(2), 255–275. https://doi.org/10.1080/13698010701409186
- Ullah, H., & Skelton, C. (2013). Gender representation in the public sector schools textbooks of Pakistan. Educational Studies, 39(2), 183–194. https://doi.org/10.1080/03055698.2012.702892
- United Nations Development Program. (2016). The Human Development Report 2016: Human Development for Everyone. United Nations Development Program (UNDP). http://hdr.undp.org/en/2016-report
- Yusuf, Z. (2016, September 24). Broken promises: Why women and girls are denied rights. Dawn. https://www.dawn.com/news/1285636/broken-promises-why-women-and-girls-are-denied-rights
References
Abid, S., & Khan, B. (2017). Motivation, Challenges and Strategies in Pursuing Higher Education by Pakistani Women: A Qualitative Study. Bahria Journal of Professional Psychology, 16(2), 55–72.
Anjum, G., Godil, A., & Sabater, A. (2019). Fear of Achievement Among Young Women in Urban Pakistan: A Phenomenological Analysis of Fear of Achievement (FOA). Cogent Social Sciences, 5(1), 1666620. https://doi.org/10.1080/23311886.2019.1666620
Ali, R., Jumani, N. B., & Ejaz, S. (2015). Higher Education of Women in Pakistan: Promises, Achievements and Barriers. Pakistan Journal of Women’s Studies: Alam-I-Nisvan, 22(2), 59–75.
Aslam, M., & Kingdon, G. G. (2008). Gender and household education expenditure in Pakistan. Applied Economics, 40(20), 2573–2591. https://doi.org/10.1080/00036840600970252
Aziz, N., Ren, Y., Rong, K., & Zhou, J. (2021). Women’s empowerment in agriculture and household food insecurity: Evidence from Azad Jammu & Kashmir (AJK), Pakistan. Land Use Policy, 102, 105249. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landusepol.2020.105249
Bayeh, E. (2016). The role of empowering women and achieving gender equality to the sustainable development of Ethiopia. Pacific Science Review B: Humanities and Social Sciences, 2(1), 37–42. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psrb.2016.09.013
Buzdar, M. A., & Ali, A. (2011). Parents’ Attitude toward Daughters’ Education in Tribal Area of Dera Ghazi Khan (Pakistan). Turkish Online Journal of Qualitative Inquiry, 2(1), 16–23.
Campbell, D. A. (2017). An Update on the United Nations Millennium Development Goals. Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic & Neonatal Nursing, 46(3), e48–e55. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jogn.2016.11.010
Choudhry, A. N., Mutalib, R. A., & Ismail, N. S. A. (2019). Socio-Cultural factors affecting Women Economic Empowerment in Pakistan: A Situation Analysis. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, 9(5), 91–102. https://doi.org/10.6007/IJARBSS/v9-i5/5842
Human Rights Watch. (2018). “Shall I Feed My Daughter, or Educate Her?†Barriers to Girls’ Education in Pakistan. Human Rights Watch. https://www.hrw.org/sites/default/files/report_pdf/pakistan1118_web2.pdf
Imran, S., & Wyatt, M. (2019). Curriculum-Making and Development in a Pakistani University. The Qualitative Report, 24(10), 2506–2519.
Khan, M. A., Kanwal, N., & Wang, L. (2018). Violent attacks on education in the tribal areas of Pakistan and the role of NGOs in providing educational services. Conflict, Security & Development, 18(2), 113–136. https://doi.org/10.1080/14678802.2018.1447861
Khan, N., Amin, N., Kakli, M. B., Piracha, Z. F., & Zia, M. A. (2017). Pakistan Education Statistics: 2015-2016. Ministry of Federal Education & Professional Training. http://library.aepam.edu.pk/Books/Pakistan% 20Education%20Statistics%202015-16.pdf
Kosec, K., Mo, C. H., Schmidt, E., & Song, J. (2021). Perceptions of relative deprivation and women’s empowerment. World Development, 138, 105218. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2020.105218
Malik, S., & Courtney, K. (2011). Higher education and women’s empowerment in Pakistan. Gender and Education, 23(1), 29–45. https://doi.org/10.1080/09540251003674071
Naseer, Z., Hu, H., Yaseen, M., & Tariq, M. (2021). Rural women empowerment through social protection programs: A case of Benazir income support programme in Punjab, Pakistan. Journal of the Saudi Society of Agricultural Sciences, 20(2), 67–74. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jssas.2020.11.005
NEMIS-AEPAM. (2018). Pakistan Education Statistics 2016â€17. National Education Management Information System & Academy of Educational Planning and Management, Ministry of Federal Education & Professional Training, Government of Pakistan.
Noureen, G. (2015). Education as a Prerequisite to Women’s Empowerment in Pakistan. Women’s Studies, 44(1), 1–22. https://doi.org/10.1080/00497878.2014.971215
Purewal, N., & Hashmi, N. (2015). Between returns and respectability: parental attitudes towards girls’ education in rural Punjab, Pakistan. British Journal of Sociology of Education, 36(7), 977–995. https://doi.org/10.1080/01425692.2014.883274
Sajjad, F., Christie, D. J., & Taylor, L. K. (2017). De-radicalizing Pakistani society: The receptivity of youth to a liberal religious worldview. Journal of Peace Education, 14(2), 195–214. https://doi.org/10.1080/17400201.2017.1304901
Samarakoon, S., & Parinduri, R. A. (2015). Does Education Empower Women? Evidence from Indonesia. World Development, 66(Supplement C), 428–442. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2014.09.002
Sarwar, A., & Imran, M. K. (2019). Exploring Women’s Multi-Level Career Prospects in Pakistan: Barriers, Interventions, and Outcomes. Frontiers in Psychology, 10, 1–19. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.01376
Shaikh, E. K. Z., Taherani, D. A., Shah, D. P., & Baghal, G. U. (2015). Empirical Determinations of Female Enrolment Trends in Education Sector of Pakistan. The Women - Annual Research Journal of Gender Studies, 7(0). http://sujo-old.usindh.edu.pk/index.php/THE-WOMEN/article/view/888
Shaukat, S., Siddiquah, A., & Pell, A. W. (2014). Gender Discrimination in Higher Education in Pakistan: A Survey of University Faculty. Eurasian Journal of Educational Research, 56, 1–24.
Toor, S. (2007). Moral Regulation in a Postcolonial Nation-State. Interventions, 9(2), 255–275. https://doi.org/10.1080/13698010701409186
Ullah, H., & Skelton, C. (2013). Gender representation in the public sector schools textbooks of Pakistan. Educational Studies, 39(2), 183–194. https://doi.org/10.1080/03055698.2012.702892
United Nations Development Program. (2016). The Human Development Report 2016: Human Development for Everyone. United Nations Development Program (UNDP). http://hdr.undp.org/en/2016-report
Yusuf, Z. (2016, September 24). Broken promises: Why women and girls are denied rights. Dawn. https://www.dawn.com/news/1285636/broken-promises-why-women-and-girls-are-denied-rights
Funding data
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Higher Education Commission, Pakistan
Grant numbers 10357/Punjab/NRPU/R&D/HEC/2017