Assessing Gender Equality in Healthcare: How HR Practices and Organizational Culture Affect Women’s Career Trajectories in Pakistan
Keywords:
Female healthcare workers, gender dynamics, gender inequality, societal expectations, healthcare sector, PakistanAbstract
Background of the study: This qualitative study focuses on the experiences of female healthcare workers in Sindh, Pakistan, exploring the gender dynamics within the healthcare sector. It highlights systemic challenges such as gender inequality, work-life balance struggles, and societal expectations that position women as primary caregivers.
Methodology: Employing an ontological constructivist perspective and Reflective Thematic Analysis, the study involves semi-structured interviews with 25 female participants. These discussions reveal the interplay between professional responsibilities and family duties.
Results: Participants report significant tension between their professional roles and familial responsibilities, often resulting in burnout and professional stagnation. The study further identifies a lack of supportive institutional policies, including inadequate maternity leave and inflexible work schedules, which complicate the ability of women to manage both career and family life effectively.
Conclusions: The findings underscore the structural and cultural barriers that inhibit the advancement of women in the healthcare sector. The research calls for policy reforms to foster a more inclusive and supportive work environment for women. It suggests that future research could incorporate male perspectives using an abductive approach to understand the gender dynamics and systemic challenges in healthcare fully.
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