Lived Experiences of Women Deans in Pakistani Universities-A Phenomenological Perspective

Abstract

In the democratic Islamic Republic of Pakistan, everyone has the right to equality, regardless of ethnicity, gender, creed, or belief system. However, the ongoing gender discrepancy in leadership roles at HEIs undermines the status of women in leadership. The primary goal of this phenomenological research was to explore the realities and obstacles that Women faculty deans experience in higher education institutions. The information was acquired through an interview process with eight Women school deans at three distinct educational institutions in Lahore, Pakistan. NVIVO 11+ was then used to conduct a theme analysis. According to an inquiry into interview data, women at Pakistani universities encounter hurdles such as the selection process, gender stereotypes, a lack of support, networking opportunities, and mentors as they strive to become university leaders. Participants stated that in order to overcome the obstacles they experience, Women leaders should devote resources to personal growth, seek help from others, organise mentoring efforts networking platforms, and conduct research.