Personal and Social Problems Faced by Women in Higher Education

The Higher Education of women plays a significant role in building the human capital and the overall socio-cultural, economic development of a country to make it sustainable. The present study explored the problems faced by female students and faculty regarding higher education in Pakistan. Data were collected from 2188 students and teachers from government colleges and universities spread over four districts of Punjab by using ‘Scale for Women’s Problems in Higher Education’ that measured personal and social problems of female students and faculty related to higher education. Data were analyzed by using t-test, ANOVA and Multiple regression analysis to determine the impact of demographic variables (age, discipline, semester, nature of respondents and district) regarding women higher education. Results indicated that respondents with background of arts feel significantly more discrimination on socio-culture challenge. Moreover, respondents of first semester had significantly lower insecurity rating and college teachers appear to have higher socio-culture challenges. However, personal insecurity ratings were lowest in Lahore district. This study recommends that access to higher education is a right of every woman in Pakistan and is a moral and social duty to achieve a sustainable society.