Challenges faced by working women

Shaista Malik and Zahra Amrish

ISLAMABAD July 8, 2010: Though government and parents are encouraging the females to work and play an active role in the development of the society yet the environment and working conditions are the least favorable for those who dare to come out of the four walls of the safe heaven for them – their homes.  
“Males at work places try to dominate the females as they do at home”, said Fatima Hassan, working as a web designer in a software house.
Samina Rashid, a Network Engineer in a government institution opined, “Today’s women are more competent than males but males are not yet willing to give them their right place. It has been observed that males can not digest the superiority of females at workplace. They don’t rely on female workers while giving assignments, particularly on technical and relatively complex tasks.” 
“Major challenge faced by women at workplace is gender discrimination. Females get less importance than males performing the same job; it is very difficult to create a work environment where gender is a non-issue” said Ayesha Khattak working as a Human Resource Manager in an Information Technology firm. 
Khalida Yasmin, a lady doctor working in a government hospital, said, “We find many opportunities but can not accept them due to domestic restrictions.”
“Working Mothers have double responsibility, as they have to engage in managing the work place and also have to run a house as well which demands a full attention to her husband, kids, and in-laws.” said  Iram Naz working as a research assistant in a local university.
“Late sitting is the biggest challenge for me”, said Rukhsi Iqbal, an employee at a call center in Islamabad. She is also a house wife with two children -- living in a joint family system. After the whole night’s tiredness at job-place it is very difficult for her to accomplish the house-hold chores.
Robina Mughal, a mother of six-month old daughter is employee at a travel agency. Though her husband in-laws are very cooperative, but her daughter misses the motherly love as she is at job place. 
“We think of leaving the job almost daily but the financial constraints do not allow us to materialize it. We have to maintain the balance between job and houses hold chores,” said Tazeem Akhtar who works at a government organization. 
“Common sitting arrangement is the major problem for female employees” said Nabila Arshad, working as Assistant at government institution.” “We don’t have separate washrooms, sitting rooms and prayers rooms in the building. Absence of these common facilities makes the working life terrible.”
“It is difficult to get job in relevance to our qualification”, expressed Rabia Niazi. She has a degree in Environmental Sciences. She wants to serve in the Ministry of Environment but currently serving as a junior lady teacher at a school.
Although women are serving at different capacities including fighter-jet-pilots, company executives, HR and Admin heads in big groups, Educationists, Customer Service heads and in banking and Telecom sectors, yet they are facing immense problems related to environment at workplace that is conducive to peaceful working.