Breaking Barriers and Biases: Understanding Female Student Experiences in University Extracurricular Activities and Student Leadership Roles

• In Event: Virtual Poster Session
  In Virtual iPresentation Only: Division L - Section 7: Social Context and Structural Inequalities Virtual Poster Session

Abstract

This paper aims to investigate the experiences of female students in extracurricular activities and student council at a higher education institution in South Asia. Using qualitative data collected through focus group discussions, it explores the sociocultural and institutional barriers that influence the lived experiences, leadership opportunities available to female students, and the challenges they encounter. The identified barriers, including gender norms, stereotypes, and lack of support and resources for female students, hinder women’s participation in extracurricular activities and their ability to assume leadership roles in the student council. The paper also examines the additional scrutiny, biases, and pressures faced by female students in leadership positions and how these factors influence their willingness to pursue such roles in the future.

Authors

• Zariya Mushtaq, University of Oxford

• Ayesha Hussain, Lahore University of Management Sciences

• Farah Nadeem, Lahore University of Management Sciences