EXPLORING THE SOCIOCULTURAL IMPEDIMENTS TO FEMALE IN GETTING HIGHER EDUCATION IN PUKHTUN SOCIETY

Abstract

Purpose of the study: This study was designed to explore the socio-cultural impediments to females getting higher education in pakhtun society. Methodology: A cross-sectional quantitative research method was conducted in district Dir lower Pakistan. A well-structured interviewed schedule (encompassing all the study attributes) was used for primary data collection from 375 female respondents after the pre-test procedure. The data were analyzed through descriptive statistics and inferential statistics(x2 test) to ascertain the association between dependent (female higher education) and independent (sociocultural impediments) variables. Principal Findings: Based on the study results, a significant association (P=0.000) was found between the dependent variable and sociocultural attributes; the prevalence of patriarchal norms (P=0.00), preferences of early marriages (P=0.00), fear of sexual harassment (P=0.00), parents carelessness (P=0.00), Parda (veiling for women and protecting their honour) and lack of decision-making power (P=0.00) impedes women from getting their higher education. Applications of this study: Early marriage is a symbol of female exploitation under the man-made unwritten codes of conduct (Pukhtoonwali) which, should be banned through formal (legislation) and informal agencies (familial and religious) level; with a collaboration of educating female to ensure dethroning the partisan character in the form of patriarchal norms, which women faced since the dawn of the history. A slogan or any other campaign through mass media and print media is the order of the day. The government should ensure to play their role on macro and micro level to eliminate the negative stigmatization of women generally while in getting higher education particularly. Novelty/Originality of this study: This study is an attempt to insight into the socio-cultural barriers to female attainment of higher education in pukhtun society through perceptional based study along with quantitative research designs to measure the association between the variables as mentioned above with an amalgamation of an addition to the existing stock of knowledge in the field of sociology of education.