*Assistant
Professor, Sarhad University of Science & IT Peshawar, Pakistan. Email: rabia.ba@suit.edu.pk
**Lecturer,
University of Swabi, KPK, Pakistan. Email: asim@uoswabi.edu.pk
***Coordinator,
Sarhad University of Science & IT Peshawar, Pakistan. Email: lal.ba@suit.edu.pk
Abstract. In KPK, many universities have been established in
public and private sector pertinent to last decade; which can directly affect
the emergence of job opportunities equally provided to both genders.
Universities normally are considered the platform for respect, dignity among
the literate community members of the society. However, in our culture the men
still dominate the female as they are not suppose to work despite their
financial problems. People are bound to their religious cultural and social
traits; illiteracy plays a vital role in this regard. In some families if the
women break the barriers and come out to the market in order to join the
economic activity, they face a lot of problems at their relevant work places.
Therefore the researcher has tried to make detail investigation of the
impediments of working Women at different universities of Peshawar.
Key words: Impediments,
working women, university
Introduction
In KPK, many universities have
been established in public and private sector pertinent to last decade; which
can directly affect the emergence of job opportunities equally provided to both
genders. Universities normally are considered the platform for respect, dignity
among the literate community members of the society. However, in our culture
the men still dominate the female as they are not supposed to work despite
their financial problems. People are bound to their religious cultural and
social traits; illiteracy plays a vital role in this regard. In some families
if the women break the barriers and come out to the market in order to join the
economic activity, they face a lot of problems at their relevant work places.
Therefore the researcher has tried to make detail investigation of the
impediments of working women at different universities of Peshawar.
A research provided the facts
that 60.8% of the employed women in Faisalabad have problems in managing house
and children and 14.8% faced conflict with their husband and in-laws due to
their jobs. 34% of the respondents are facing conveyance problem and 41.4% thought
that their working conditions are not desirable (Maqsood, 2005).
Working women felt that their job
is not secured; owner of the factories changed the workers without any reason
and promotion offered on the basis of sexual favor. Most working women also
facing face harassment in the form of catcalls and Gestures (Cheema, 2003).
In Pakistan Majority of women are
working in Factories, where, they are facing three types of harassment namely,
sexual harassment, physical harassment and mental harassment. A very few number
of females are facing the husband’s opposition towards their jobs. Reasons for
those who do have the community and familial censure leading to male
ego-problems neglect of children, housework and family ill health. Relatives
(in-laws) criticize there paid employment because they are afraid of their
morals will become loose; they become too independent and forget their actual
status.
The women are suffering from
market discrimination and hence are pushed to separate low-paid and low-status
jobs. Majority of women are employed in the unorganized sectors. Mostly women
are concentrated in sector known for low level of productivity, less income
stability and low security of employment due to their dual role at home and
workplaces. An organized service sector is mostly provides employment to a
small proportion of women. The rate of unemployment among women is consistently
higher than that of men, both in rural and urban areas (Mahpara, 2011). Many female face problems
of daycare facility as there should be someone to look after them when these
moms are working and if this facility is sponsored by the employer than the
outcomes are even higher (Bowdoin, 2005). Another research showed
that working women face two types of harassment at work one is due to
discrimination and another is workplace harassment (Nobullying,
2015). According to Mordi (2011)
women are mostly affected by their gender imposed factor, organization related
factors & family oriented issues.
Most of
the societies consider the top management positions suitable for men rather
than women (Hannagan, 2005). Furthermore,
it was explained with the help of different gender based theories by Blau and Hendricks (1997) that at lower level positions
get less time for performing official duties because they have to work full
time at home.
Some other factors considered to
create problems to working women in order to reach to management positions is
the reality that women most of the time can not avail the training
opportunities and specially sponsored one might be caused be their high
employee turnover rate which also affects the employers indirect cost (Blau
& Hendricks, 1997). While exploring about the problems Abidin (2009) argued
that among various factors traveling was not notified as a hurdle to the
working women, but the factors commonly affecting were stress related to job
activities, working for some extra hours and keeping a balance between family
life and job.
As per the findings of Still
(1994), the recently identified significant factor was the cultural forces
& dilemmas such as if rare number of females were given top managerial
positions was considered as to be a non-traditional area which required special
efforts.
Gregory (2003) argued that women
workforce might be increased in upcoming time but men employment ratio will
still be nearly 75 % of the total employment. Williams (1989) notified in his
research conducted on US economy that gender differences also arise from the
appraisal perspectives of the supervisors.
Keeping in view the cultural and
organizational barriers it was extracted by Cobb (1994) that major constraints
to working women are the limited access to job opportunities, unfavorable
working atmosphere at work and high iteration levels in different industrial
sectors. His findings also highlighted about the other problems such as sexual
harassment, paternalism & different standards for both genders such as
their suggestions are given less importance than man etc.
This study was designed
keeping in view the following objectives:
1) To find
out the problems that employed women have to face in the universities (i.e.,
Harassment, Facilities provided by the organization, Job satisfaction &
Requirements);
2) To find
out the problems from their family side;
3) To find
out the attitude of male colleagues/friends & Owner (Head) towards the
working women; and
4) To
suggest the measures to solve the problems of working women in Universities.
Research
Methodology
There are 15 universities, both
public & private sectors, currently working in Peshawar and our aim to
study the problems of working women in universities, therefore, primary data is
collected through scheduled interviews by using convenient sampling technique
from the sample of 120 women, 10 from each university. The outcomes reveal on
the basis of qualitative analysis technique. Although the research is
qualitative in nature but the database was created to highlight the priority of
the issue to be addressed and to know the most important problem.
Key Findings
Problems at
university level
While investigating about the
problems at university level it was observed that most of the married women
claimed to give even better output if they are provided with day care facility
for the infants. They argued that for the mental and physical participation
there should be certain places at their workplace for their children so they
can at least once or twice visit them. Some other universities do not provide
the facility of sick room which is also very much important for their better
performance. Similarly working women have the responsibilities at home and at
work so they have to manage both lives and have to keep a balance between two
therefore, in those universities where Saturdays are not off it was a major
problem for workload management. According to the cultural differences some
women face the gender discrimination related their pay/ wage. As males are
considered for higher pay/ wage then women which are also a major problem to
them. Transportation and separate offices were also among the problems they
face.
Problems
from Family
In order to know about the
problems that working women face due to family the researcher came to know
after investigating them that most of the family members expect them to keep a
balance between their family life and job. Another major problem to working
women is that they get fewer chances to continue their education as they have
to work at home after coming back from work. Furthermore some working women
also identified as having health related issues in case of over burdening
themselves when work is tough and time consuming.
Similarly while discussing about
other problems such as child care and family politics the responses included
that working women get less time to take care of their child although they try
to but since most organization do not provide childcare facility so they have
to leave their children with other family members or at daycare centers. They
also argued that inspite of financial support to their families they suffer
from family politics such as competition about lifestyle the working women
have, specially to married working women where she is living in a joint family
setup. Some married working women shared their problems related earning
capacity that if their husbands earn less than they earn mostly husbands go
into inferior complexity and their family life get disturbed.
Attitude of
Male colleagues/Friends and Head
While inquiring about their
problems with Colleagues, friends & head the response revealed upon these
findings. The first and the most important are of attention they described was
the gender discrimination related compensation. As per them here in this
society working men are given higher pay then working women. Another problem
not all of them but few face is related to harassment workplace harassment
& harassment due to discrimination. According to them those working whose skin
complexion are fare and they are beautiful plus they give more time to bosses
get better promotions then those who do not have. Some women pointed out that
their male colleagues take better care of them than female colleague might be
because of jealousy problem.
Conclusion
The researcher has tried to
investigate about the problems of working women at different universities of
Peshawar concisely from 120 women from 12 universities. It was observed that
working women face different problems at university level, from family and from
their colleagues. The problems included daycare facility for married working
women, sick room, separate offices, transportation, and less wage due to gender
discrimination. Whereas from family they face the problems of family and work
life balance problem, health issues, less attention to their children, family
politics and life disturbance due to increased pay from their husband. Similarly while investigating about the
problems they have from colleagues and head it was noticed that they suffer
from harassment problems, gender discrimination issue once again and jealousy
problem from other women.
Suggestions
The women are playing a vital
role in the growth of Pakistan; therefore, it’s the responsibility of
organization that they provide all the facilities required to the working
women. These can include Separate offices, Sick rooms, separate conveyance and
time relaxation in case of married women, day care facility for the women
having kids as their rights.
Keeping in view the above stated
few facilities working environment should also be relaxed and respectful so
that the women feels secured & comfortable in performing their duties. Furthermore, Higher Education
Commission has already introduced implemented Harassment policies/Law in all
universities but HEC should keep a control over the proper utilization of these
policies in the universities. And at university level the women suffering from
workplace harassment should note down all the facts with them and should take
their supervisor into confidence and professionally should discuss with them
along with all the facts they have gathered so their bosses are convinced and
support them by taking proper action against the person creating problems for
them.
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