INVISIBLE STRUGGLES: PSYCHOLOGICAL DISTRESS AND GENDERED EXPERIENCES OF WOMEN ENGINEERS IN PAKISTAN

Abstract

Engineering remains a male-dominated profession globally, and in Pakistan women engineers work within sociocultural and institutional contexts that influence their professional life. Although existing research has excessively examined structure barriers and gendered experiences, comparatively little attention has been given to the psychological distress experienced by women engineers in their personal and professional lives. This research paper examines the nature and sources of psychological distress among women engineers, who work in academic and corporate sectors in Pakistan.

The qualitative research design was used, and the data was gathered through focus group discussions with women engineers and analyzed using thematic analysis. The findings revealed several interrelated aspects of psychological distress, such as emotional exhaustion, isolation and self-doubt, emotionally unsafe workplace, work-family conflicts, and limited institutional support. The participants were also described various coping and survival strategies used to manage these challenges within male-dominated professional environment.

The research highlights psychological distress as a major yet underexplored aspect of women engineers’ professional lives in Pakistan. By foregrounding lived experiences of women engineers, the findings highlighted the need to establish psychologically safe, accommodating and gender-sensitive engineering work environments that promote well-being and long-term engagement in the profession.