Exploring Enabling and Hindering Factors for Women in Higher Education Institutions: A Qualitative Study in District Bhakkar
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TEst 10-03-2025Abstract
This study investigates the factors influencing female higher education attainment in the Bhakkar District, a region characterized by a unique cultural challenge. Recognizing the critical role of higher education in economic progress and gender equality, this study utilized qualitative research design and employed purposive sampling technique to collect the data and further snowball sampling technique was also used to connect with the females who had quit their education and were in contact with the participants. The total 14 in-depth interviews were conducted with the participants chosen from Bhakkar city. The study further focuses to investigate the enabling and hindering factors to get understanding about the factors which plays a contributory role in the attainment of higher education for girls. Keeping in the view this prospective 7 interviews were conducted with the females who continued their study and further 7 interviews with the ones who discontinued their studies and did not get admissions in the higher education institutions. This study get insight from the role congruity theory to unanalyze the perceived role of women in the society where they considered fit to work in the private sphere and not for the labor force. After analyzing data by using thematic analysis technique following key themes were extracted from the data to highlight the enabling factors and hindering factors identified as: family support/extended family role, personal intellectual capacity and motivation, financial circumstances/high socio-economic status, role of institution/teacher role, scholarships, coeducation system, gender as a decisive factor and travelling issue. The findings highlight the need for targeted interventions and policy initiatives to dismantle systemic barriers to women's access to higher education, promoting gender equality and social inclusion in Bhakkar District and beyond.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Saima Afzal Khan, Dr. Naveeda Noreen, Sidra Afzal Khan, Prof. Dr. Bushra Yasmeen
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