Exploring the Socio-Cultural Barriers that Hinder Female's Access to Higher Education in Rural Areas of Quetta and Examining Female Perspectives on the Effectiveness of These Barriers

Abstract

The study primarily aims to identify and analyze socio-cultural obstacles that prevent women from pursuing higher education in rural Quetta. It focuses on examining how women perceive the effectiveness of these barriers. This study utilized a qualitative research methodology to investigate the experiences of ten young female participants encountering socio-cultural obstacles that hindered their pursuit of higher education. The researchers conducted in-person interviews with participants using a semi-structured questionnaire, allowing for a full analysis of their experiences. The socio-cultural impediments examined include patriarchal culture, early marriages, priority for sons' education, co-education and male teachers, and social bias towards females. The findings indicate that although these obstacles exist, many young females do not view them as effective in discouraging their pursuit of higher education. This study highlights women's unfavorable situation in rural areas of Quetta, highlighting the need for more effective strategies to encourage women to pursue higher education.