LIVED EXPERIENCES OF MARRIED WOMEN STUDENTS IN HIGHER EDUCATION OF PAKISTAN

Abstract

The study aimed at exploring the lived experiences of married women students in higher education of Pakistan. It discovered the challenges married women students encounter in married and academic life, the way support from significant others shapes their experiences differently. A qualitative research design focused on phenomenology as philosophical underpinning and as methodology informs the study. The theoretical bases were given by concept of second shift, intersectionality and barriers in participation. A study sample, engaging 16 participants were selected using purposive and snowball sampling technique. The participants were enrolled to public sector universities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad. In depth, semi structured interviews were conducted using interview guide as instrument. Thematic analysis was employed to generate codes, sub categories and major themes. Married women students engaged in student role and domestic role combined forming challenges and constrains in attaining higher education. The provision of support from the significant family shapes the experiences of students differently as compared to students with no provision of support. Married students living in joint and nuclear family systems had no effect on their performance by family type. An interesting finding was that resilience, motivation, hard work and dedication of married women students made them perform well in challenging situations and kept them determined in competitive spaces.