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Women Struggling to Achieve Higher Education: a Cultural WOMEN STRUGGLING TO ACHIEVE HIGHER EDUCATION: A CULTURAL COMPARISON OF PAKISTANI AND AMERCIAN PAKISTANI WOMEN A Thesis Presented to the faculty of the Graduate and Professional Studies in Education California State University, Sacramento Submitted in partial satisfaction of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF ARTS in Education (Behavioral Sciences/Gender Equity Studies) by Sehar Saqib Choudhary SUMMER 2014 © 2014 Sehar Saqib Choudhary ALL RIGHTS RESERVED ii WOMEN STRUGGLING TO ACHIEVE HIGHER EDUCATION: A CULTURAL COMPARISON OF PAKISTANI AND AMERCIAN PAKISTANI WOMEN A Thesis by Sehar Saqib Choudhary Approved by: __________________________________, Committee Chair Sherrie Carinci, Ed.D. __________________________________, Second Reader Angela Shaw, Ed.D. ____________________________ Date iii Student: Sehar Saqib Choudhary I certify that this student has met the requirements for format contained in the University format manual, and that this thesis is suitable for shelving in the Library and credit is to be awarded for the thesis. , Department Chair Susan Heredia, Ph.D. Date Graduate and Professional Studies in Education iv Abstract of WOMEN STRUGGLING TO ACHIEVE HIGHER EDUCATION: A CULTURAL COMPARISON OF PAKISTANI AND AMERCIAN PAKISTANI WOMEN by Sehar Saqib Choudhary My intention for this comparison study was to bring awareness to the struggles of Pakistani and American Pakistani women’s in achieving higher education. Additionally, the study measured the influence of social construction of gender, parental expectations, socioeconomic status, culture, and gender dynamics within family and education of Pakistani and American Pakistani women in pursuit of their educational goals. Through quantitative and qualitative data, the researcher reached several conclusions. The results indicated that parental expectations, experience with education system and culture, socioeconomic status and gender dynamics within family, and gender dynamics within education affected the participants of this study in a significant way. The quantitative data indicated to the researcher that both American Pakistani and Pakistani participants in this study holds a high regard and respect for parental expectations. Respondents in this particular sample had varied experience v with education system and culture. Specifically, American Pakistani women reported positive attitudes about the American education system and culture. In comparison, 69% of Pakistani women strongly supported the Pakistani education system while 31% disagreed. Inconsistencies with attitudes toward Pakistani education system are due to inequalities and access to education. Even though quantitative data on socioeconomic status and gender dynamics within the family opposed disparities and inequalities in women’s education, discussion of the same issues in qualitative results reported otherwise. Similarly, participants in this study strongly favored that their gender does not define their performance in education. Yet, thematic analysis of qualitative data that asked participants’ interpretations on barriers keeping women from achieving their educational goals exposed contradictory results. _______________________, Committee Chair Sherrie Carinci, Ed.D. _______________________ Date vi DEDICATION I would like to dedicate this thesis to my daughter Zainab. You give me strength and a purpose to live every day. You are my joy and pride. To my mother and father, you are the most supportive and loving parents. Your love, kindness, and this utter believe in your daughter’s aim to earn a Master’s degree to create a better life is inspiring. You have continued to support me in the toughest situations in my life and I would not have been able to continue my journey through this Master’s program without your continuous encouragement. To my siblings, our unity as a family has brought us far from where we started as kids. A lifetime journey from Pakistan to United States has created endless memories of accomplishments, acknowledgements, and inspiration. I look up to each one of you as my role models. To my dearest friends, thank you for your endless support and love. I think of you as my sisters who are always there for me in need and entered my life to show me the true meaning of friendship. I am truly blessed to have you in my life. Lastly, I am grateful to have known of a very kind and caring soul, Dr. Sherrie Carinci. You welcomed me to the Gender Equity Program with so much enthusiasm. Your vision and teachings guided me and changed my outlook of this world. Thank you for your continuous support and positive attitude. vii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to acknowledge all American Pakistani and Pakistani women who are paving the path for future generations by accomplishing their educational goals. I look forward to seeing the names of Pakistani women being associated with success, achievements, and revolutionary changes that empowers and inspires women all over the world. I am grateful for all of those who believed in me and gave me strength to accomplish my dreams. viii TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Dedication ................................................................................................................... vii Acknowledgements ................................................................................................... viii List of Tables ............................................................................................................... xi Chapter 1. INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................. 1 Purpose of the Study ......................................................................................... 5 Statement of the Problem ................................................................................. 5 Methodology ..................................................................................................... 6 Limitations ........................................................................................................ 8 Theoretical Basis for the Study ........................................................................ 9 Definition of Terms ........................................................................................ 12 Organization of the Thesis .............................................................................. 13 Background of the Researcher ........................................................................ 14 2. REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE ........................................................... 15 U.S. Women and Higher Education ............................................................... 15 Gender in American Education ...................................................................... 18 American Pakistani Immigrants and Education ............................................. 22 Education Trends in Pakistan ......................................................................... 26 ix Gender in Pakistani Education ....................................................................... 29 Conclusion ...................................................................................................... 33 3. METHODOLOGY ............................................................................................. 35 Introduction .................................................................................................... 35 Research Design and Data Collection ............................................................ 35 Research Questions ........................................................................................ 37 Research Instruments ...................................................................................... 37 Setting ............................................................................................................. 38 Participants ..................................................................................................... 39 Procedures ...................................................................................................... 41 Conclusion ...................................................................................................... 42 4. FINDINGS .......................................................................................................... 43 Research Questions ........................................................................................ 43 Quantitative Results ........................................................................................ 43 Qualitative Results .......................................................................................... 50 Conclusion ...................................................................................................... 55 5. DISCUSSION, CONCLUSIONS, LIMITATIONS, AND RECOMMENDATIONS .................................................................................... 56 Introduction .................................................................................................... 56 Discussion of Quantitative Data ..................................................................... 56 Discussion of Qualitative Data ....................................................................... 69 x Conclusion of Study ....................................................................................... 76 Limitations ...................................................................................................... 78 Recommendations for Further Study .............................................................
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