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International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences

Open Access Journal

ISSN: 2222-6990

BROKEN WINGS: ISSUES FACED BY FEMALE DOCTORS IN PAKISTAN REGARDING CAREER DEVELOPMENT

SEEMA ARIF

Open access

We often read slogans like "Without women, no development" but are women really
advancing? We still need to know 1) whether women’s career paths are as smooth as that of
men’s? 2) Can they claim and bargain for their desired compensations and promotions; 3) 0r
they can easily relocate themselves easily to some organization or place where they may find all
that is desired by them? 4) Can they build and sustain their own power networks; 5) can they
organize and run professional bodies and societies on their own? And finally we see women
facilitating others everywhere but how often do we see women leading others? This qualitative
study aims to identify reasons why women fail to pursue their career as seriously as men. What
are the social and psychological factors that are pushing women behind? What values and traits
are missing in women that they fail to acquire leadership roles in life? What can be done to help
and guide the women struggling in their careers towards better decision making. The study
comprise of report developed after interpretive analysis of the qualitative survey done with
lady doctors working in national hospitals in three districts of Punjab, Pakistan supported by indepth interviews of doctors working with Pakistan Medical Association and telephonic survey
with doctors who did not pursue their career. After triangulation and analysis of the evidence,
the researcher reached at an interesting conclusion, that lady doctors must learn to balance
between their emotional and professional needs to stay in the field and advance in career.

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