A study of the role and status of working women in their families and professional fields (A case study of district Faisalabad) [Pakistan]

The objectives of the study were to study the socio-economic characteristics, level of satisfaction, role of working women in their families and level of satisfaction of family member. The selected universe for the research consisted of the workingwomen in different institutions, in district Faisalabad. A sample of 120 respondents was taken, out of which 60 were workingwomen and 60 were their husbands and elder child. Comprehensive questionnaire comprising of 25 questions in questionnaire-I and 12 question in questionnaire-II was conducted. It was found that majority of the respondents (73.3%) belonged to age group (20-40) years, highly educated i.e. 63.3 percent and were teachers, doctors/nurses (58.3%). All the respondents were married. 75% were performed their domestic chores by themselves along with their professional duties. 65% had respect according to their status in their professional field and had the job security. However only 20 percent were satisfied from their salaries to a great extent, only 10 percent had un- favourable attitude towards their employment by their father. It was found that 73.3% had favourable attitude towards them as working women. It was found that 41.7% respondents were those who said that their pay is not equal to males and they are not enjoying the same facilities a male. Half of the respondents were satisfied to a great extent from their role in the family. It was found that 56.7 percent respondents had thinking that there job in beneficial to their family and the majority of the respondents 61.7% were consulted in decision makings regarding family affairs. It was found from questionnaire-II that 38.3 percent respondents were in age group of (31 to 40 years) and (31.7%) were in age group of 41 and above years. 75.0% were highly educated. 40% were govt. employees. 85% were the husbands of working women, where husbands were not available data was collected from their elder child i.e. (15 %). 75 % said that their home was not disturbed due to her job and their children were not neglected due to her job. 71.7% said that we are co-operative with working women to share her responsibilities. On 3% respondents were not satisfied at all with her role in the family. Finding at bivariate level. A significant association between age of the husbands of the working women and their satisfaction with her role in the family, the type of family and the satisfaction of their members with the role of working women. There exist positive and significant association between education of the husbands and their co-operation with them to share their responsibilities. It is concluded from study findings that the married working women have to look after their home, their children and other members along with their professional duties, but they are performing their duel role very well. It is also very important to make their double role successful that their family members should be very co-operative with her, as findings shows that family memberþs support and encouragement to working women. It is a remarkable change in traditional societies like Pakistan. It is also concluded that the status of women who are working in private institution is not upto mark as compare to those who are working in govt. Institutions, working hours of those women, who are working in factories in homes or involved with labour force are very long but they are not satisfied with their wages. Long working hours are great hindrance in performing their domestic duties.