Exploring the Triple Burden: Work-Life Balance and Coping Strategies of Female M.Phil. Education Scholars in Selected Private Universities of Karachi

Abstract

The current research deals with an emerging professional scenario experienced by female students engaged in pursuit of M Phil in Education. Their experiences, exposures, issues, challenges and unprecedented events are highlighted with the lens of ground realities, specifically while these female M Phil education candidates are stressed with a threefold domestic and professional engagement. A sample of (N-17) MPhil Education candidates were interviewed with regards to their coping strategies, issues and challenges. The study found that feminine resilience, by and large is a major factor toward coping with life and leads to a fairly balanced lifestyle. During this self-induced balance in life, the female MPhil education scholars had to compromise and sacrifice many personal goals and often fell victim to conventional domestic practices that burdened womenfolk in Pakistani culture. A large number of female education candidates with responsibilities of raising children and looking after associated domestic tasks and chores were the group of individuals who sacrificed the most while endeavoring   to excel in academic engagement. Alongside this, professional work pressure and expectations from employers also add to the misery of full-time female MPhil Education candidates.