Role of Family in Supporting Female Education and Aspiring Career in Southern Punjab, Pakistan

Abstract

The study has examined the role of the family in the attainment of women's education and development careers in Southern, Punjab Pakistan. The purpose of the study is to explore the role of the family and its influence on them in choosing women's careers. The research was conducted with a qualitative approach and was exploratory in nature. The study was conducted in March-April 2022 in the South region of Punjab, Pakistan. In the study, 15 respondents were selected by using a purposive sampling procedure and they were from different cities and from an educational sector, Women University Multan, Pakistan. Data was collected through semi-structured in-depth interviews of time duration 30 to 40 minutes. After that data was analyzed by using the thematic analysis method. From transcripts, 10 themes emerged. That themes were family support and acceptance, family as a source of moral support, family in career decision, marriage as a barrier, spousal support, support from mother-in-law, women's salary and societal support, challenges being a mother, gender inequity, facilitating factors from family and wellbeing. The current study explained that women are dependent on their parents in choosing and in the progression of their careers. The study revealed that moral support from family has a positive impact on women's successful life. This research explored that those women who got more support from their families were more motivated and became able to manage the stress and pressure of educational and career life responsibilities.