NAVIGATING LIFE'S CHALLENGES IN UNDERGRADUATES: AN IN-DEPTH EXPLORATION OF GENDER DISPARITIES IN COPING STRATEGIES AND SUCCESSES (A LITERATURE REVIEW)

This comprehensive literature review investigates gender disparities among undergraduates in Sri Lanka, exploring academic, financial, and social challenges. Despite women displaying higher enrollment, graduation rates, and academic performance, disparities extend to employment, relationships, and gender-based violence. Success stories highlight women breaking societal norms and men challenging traditional roles. The dynamic coping strategies employed underscore the necessity of ongoing support, policy changes, and societal awareness. An intersectional lens reveals unique challenges based on race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and sexual orientation. The review emphasizes the urgency of interventions for gender disparities, offering insights for policymakers, educators, and institutions. The subsequent examination of undergraduate life in Sri Lanka delves into academic pressure, financial hardships, limited support services, job prospects, and social issues. Gender-specific challenges demonstrate how societal expectations shape women's and men's experiences in higher education. The coping strategies section categorizes mechanisms and explores gender-specific ones, indicating potential disparities influenced by societal expectations. Factors affecting coping strategies, such as the work environment and social support, are discussed. The impact of coping strategies on academic success is analyzed, highlighting the symbiotic relationship between effective coping mechanisms and positive outcomes. The review concludes by outlining future research directions, advocating for an intersectionality perspective, longitudinal studies, and a focus on mental health's role in academic success. Implications for policy and practice stress the need for inclusive support services, faculty training programs, and initiatives promoting mental health awareness to create a supportive environment for all undergraduates.