Exploring the Experiences of Male Faculty in Gender-Disparate Basic Medical Sciences Faculty: A Qualitative Study

Abstract

Objective:

The study aimed to explore the experiences of male faculty members currently working in female-dominated basic sciences departments of different private and public medical & dental colleges in Karachi.

Methods:

This qualitative study employed an empirical phenomenological approach and was conducted from January 2021 to 2022. A total of 10 participants were interviewed, ranging from senior lecturers to professors. The interviews were audio recorded and transcribed verbatim. Transcripts were approved by the respondents to ensure clarity and rigor in the study. Three independent researchers conducted inductive data analysis and final themes were decided with consensus among six authors.

Results:

Two main themes with three subthemes were generated. Most interviewees agreed that working in female-dominated basic science departments had its advantages. However, most of them still seemed dissatisfied with their workplace.  Issues such as gender bias, culturally based privilege abuse, the envious nature of females, and female bosses not being able to handle stress and criticism were identified as the main reasons for their dissatisfaction.

Conclusion:

Most of the participants were not satisfied with the female-dominant work environment. However, further research is required to eliminate the culture-based issues where society still struggles with accepting female dominance in workplaces.