PARENTHOOD AND PROFESSIONAL ENGAGEMENT: A STUDY OF WORK-FAMILY CONFLICTING ROLES AMONGST FACULTY OF HIGHER EDUCATION IN ISLAMABAD

Abstract

This study aimed at the association of work-family conflicts with parenthood and professional engagement. The study also tried to explore work-life balance along with parenthood, the role of family structure and their support, the role of domestic support, organizational support, professional satisfaction, and female faculty who have children and work in higher educational institutions. This research is a qualitative study in which in-depth interviews were used as the design of study’s design as a mode for data analysis. Purposive sampling was used as a text a series of female faculty from the universities of Islamabad who have children. 26 female teachers, among which 15 belong to Quaid-I Azam university and 11 belong to Bahria university, Islamabad, were selected. For the data analysis, the researcher transcribed recorded interviews, and after that transcriptions were analyzed and articulated. Results showed that parenthood is considered more exclusively the mother’s responsibility in society, and she is more accountable for the fulfilment of adjacent responsibilities. Family structure has a great role in the provision of support to married female faculties who have kids. The role of domestic support and outside childcare services are highly important in the absence of family and spouse’s support. Institutional policies, administrative roles, individual time management skills, child wellbeing, fulfillment of parental roles, career advancement, satisfaction, and mental and social wellbeing are significantly related to parenthood and professional engagement.