Issues and Challenges to Women Academic Leadership: A Case Study of Higher Education Institutions in Pakistan

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.16935613

Abstract

This qualitative case study investigates the multifaceted barriers hindering the advancement of women into academic leadership positions within Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in Pakistan. Despite a significant presence of women at student and junior faculty levels, a stark vertical segregation persists, with their representation drastically diminishing in senior roles such as Deans, Directors, and Vice-Chancellors. Guided by Feminist Standpoint Theory and Gendered Organization Theory, this research employs in-depth, semi-structured interviews with women in academic leadership roles across multiple Pakistani universities. A thematic analysis of the data reveals a complex, interlocking system of challenges operating at three levels: macro socio-cultural expectations (e.g., familial obligations, societal norms), meso organizational structures (e.g., male-dominated informal networks, biased policies, lack of institutional support), and micro internalized barriers (e.g., imposter syndrome, the double bind). The findings demonstrate that women are not passive victims of these structures but actively employ strategies of resilience, strategic navigation, and the formation of informal "sisterhood" networks to overcome these hurdles. The study concludes that the underrepresentation of women is a systemic issue requiring multi-faceted interventions. It recommends concrete policy and institutional reforms, including transparent promotion criteria, mandatory mentorship programs, and leadership development initiatives, to dismantle the gendered barriers and foster a more inclusive and equitable academic leadership landscape in Pakistan. The research contributes a nuanced, context-rich understanding of the gendered power dynamics within Pakistani HEIs, highlighting the critical need to leverage this untapped potential for the sector's future development.

Keywords: Women Academic Leadership, Gender Equity, Higher Education in Pakistan, Gendered Organizations, Qualitative Case Study, Barriers and Challenges