Women's Empowerment: A Qualitative Study of Structural Barriers and Changing Societal Attitudes

The concept and practice of women’s empowerment have gained significant importance in the present-day world. This is intended not just for women’s personal growth but also for the development of society as a whole. However, women face many challenges on this journey. This study employs a phenomenological approach to explore the challenges faced by women lecturers and the social perceptions of their role as working women. This paper is part of a broader study conducted to investigate the empowerment dynamics of female lecturers. For this purpose, a total of 12 female lecturers were selected using a purposive sampling technique and were subsequently interviewed to share their experiences. Two main themes emerged under the study objectives: 1) Structural challenges faced by female lecturers on their empowerment journey and 2) Societal shifts towards women's empowerment. It was found that women lecturers encounter constraints mainly because of patriarchal gender norms, leading to many difficulties in maintaining a work-life balance. Married women feel more burdened as a result of this structure compared to unmarried females. However, it was also discovered that general perceptions of these employed women are gradually changing, and some people in their surroundings look up to them as role models. It is recommended that policies be formulated to help women on this journey and to reduce the social stigma attached to women working outside the home to earn money.