A Comprehensive Study on Challenges and Opportunities for Enhancing Professional Education among Muslim Women

Authors

  • Heena Kowsar
  • R. Vijaya Krishna Naidu
  • Shaik Ummi Salma
  • L. Satish Kumar
  • Maheswari Vikram

Keywords:

Muslim women, education barriers, socio-economic, cultural norms, professional education

Abstract

This study focuses on the challenges Muslim women in India face when trying to pursue professional education. Despite progress in women’s education worldwide, Muslim women in India still struggle with lower percentage of professional education. An attempt has been made in this study to find out the root causes for this phenomenon and also to identify possible measures to abate it. This research combines surveys and interviews with women between 18 and 35 age group in both urban and semi-urban areas, using a set of rubrics. The results pointed out to several factors such as economic hardships, cultural norms, early marriages and demanding family expectations, to be the root causes. Meagre government support and access to scholarships, especially in rural areas where transportation and educational facilities are lacking, too contribute to the lowered professional education rates among Muslim women. To tackle these issues, there’s a need for government policy changes, better community support, and stronger educational infrastructure. On implementation of these changes, Muslim women could break free from the limitations of poverty and cultural inhibitions and gain better access to professional education, allowing them to not only improve their lives but also contribute to society as a whole. Thus, this study has explored the root causes for the low percentage of professional education among Muslim women and also suggests practical solutions for betterment of the same.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Metrics

Metrics Loading ...

References

Abbas, A., Ar, A. Y., & Hosseini, S. (2024). A global perspective of government initiatives to support higher education during the COVID-19 pandemic: A systematic review of literature. Research in Globalization, 8, 100202. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resglo.2024.100202

Abdollahian, M., Zeng, Y., & Thomas, J. (2024). Happiness and the state: Going beyond GDP with political performance measures for societal subjective well-being. Social Sciences & Humanities Open, 10, 100981. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssaho.2024.100981

Azim, F., & Hasan, P. (2014). Language, literature, education and community: The Bengali Muslim woman in the early twentieth century. Women’s Studies International Forum, 45, 105–111. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wsif.2013.10.013

Balachandran, A., & Desai, S. (2024). Transportation, employment and gender norms: Evidence from Indian cities. Regional Science Policy & Practice, 16(6), 100060. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rspp.2024.100060

Bhaumik, S. K., & Chakrabarty, M. (2009a). Is education the panacea for economic deprivation of Muslims?: Evidence from wage earners in India, 1987–2005. Journal of Asian Economics, 20(2), 137–149. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.asieco.2008.09.014

Bhaumik, S. K., & Chakrabarty, M. (2009b). Is education the panacea for economic deprivation of Muslims?: Evidence from wage earners in India, 1987–2005. Journal of Asian Economics, 20(2), 137–149. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.asieco.2008.09.014

Bhuwania, P., Mukherji, A., & Swaminathan, H. (2024a). Women’s education through empowerment: Evidence from a community-based program. World Development Perspectives, 33, 100568. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wdp.2024.100568

Bhuwania, P., Mukherji, A., & Swaminathan, H. (2024b). Women’s education through empowerment: Evidence from a community-based program. World Development Perspectives, 33, 100568. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wdp.2024.100568

Bilal, Komal, B., Ezeani, E., Usman, M., Kwabi, F., & Ye, C. (2023). Do the educational profile, gender, and professional experience of audit committee financial experts improve financial reporting quality? Journal of International Accounting, Auditing and Taxation, 53, 100580. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.intaccaudtax.2023.100580

Cherayi, S., & Jose, J. P. (2016). Empowerment and social inclusion of Muslim women: Towards a new conceptual model. Journal of Rural Studies, 45, 243–251. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrurstud.2016.04.003

Daoud, A., & Johansson, F. D. (2024). The impact of austerity on children: Uncovering effect heterogeneity by political, economic, and family factors in low- and middle-income countries. Social Science Research, 118, 102973. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssresearch.2023.102973

Daouli, J., Demoussis, M., & Giannakopoulos, N. (2010). Mothers, fathers and daughters: Intergenerational transmission of education in Greece. Economics of Education Review, 29(1), 83–93. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.econedurev.2009.02.006

Deshpande, A., & Kabeer, N. (2024). Norms that matter: Exploring the distribution of women’s work between income generation, expenditure-saving and unpaid domestic responsibilities in India. World Development, 174, 106435. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2023.106435

Emran, M. S., & Shilpi, F. (2015). Gender, Geography, and Generations: Intergenerational Educational Mobility in Post-Reform India. World Development, 72, 362–380. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2015.03.009

Hota, S. P. (2023). Education infrastructure, expenditure, enrollment & economic development in Odisha, India. International Journal of Educational Development, 103, 102903. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijedudev.2023.102903

Infante-Amate, J., Travieso, E., & Aguilera, E. (2024). Unsustainable prosperity? Decoupling wellbeing, economic growth, and greenhouse gas emissions over the past 150 years. World Development, 184, 106754. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2024.106754

Khan, T. A., Ahmad, K. M., Nahvi, I., Rajab, M., Qayum, S., & Kamal, M. (2024). Educational exclusion and socio-cultural constraints for tribal women in the Ganderbal district. Women’s Studies International Forum, 106, 102970. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wsif.2024.102970

Kumari, N., & Shekhar, C. (2023). Trend and determinants of early marriage in Rajasthan: Evidence from the national family health survey. Children and Youth Services Review, 145, 106746. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2022.106746

Maity, S., Rummana Barlaskar, M. U., & Sarkar, M. M. (2022). Girls’ educational attainment at the higher secondary level across Indian states: Scenario and determinants. Social Sciences & Humanities Open, 6(1), 100283. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssaho.2022.100283

Markussen, S., & Røed, K. (2023). The rising influence of family background on early school performance. Economics of Education Review, 97, 102491. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.econedurev.2023.102491

Nakajima, M., Kijima, Y., & Otsuka, K. (2018). Is the learning crisis responsible for school dropout? A longitudinal study of Andhra Pradesh, India. International Journal of Educational Development, 62, 245–253. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijedudev.2018.05.006

Nandi, A., Haberland, N., & Ngo, T. D. (2023a). The impact of primary schooling expansion on adult educational attainment, literacy, and health: Evidence from India’s Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan. International Journal of Educational Development, 102, 102871. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijedudev.2023.102871

Nandi, A., Haberland, N., & Ngo, T. D. (2023b). The impact of primary schooling expansion on adult educational attainment, literacy, and health: Evidence from India’s Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan. International Journal of Educational Development, 102, 102871. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijedudev.2023.102871

Prateek, & Arya, R. (2021). C-TOL: Convex triangulation for optimal node localization with weighted uncertainties. Physical Communication, 46, 101300. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.phycom.2021.101300

Seebacher, M. (2023). Pathways to progress: The complementarity of bicycles and road infrastructure for girls’ education. Economics of Education Review, 97, 102483. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.econedurev.2023.102483

Sosu, E. M., & Pimenta, S. M. (2023). Early childhood education attendance and school readiness in low- and middle-income countries: The moderating role of family socioeconomic status. Early Childhood Research Quarterly, 63, 410–423. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecresq.2023.01.005

Tiwari, A., Datta, B. K., Haider, M. R., & Jahan, M. (2023). The role of child marriage and marital disruptions on hypertension in women - A nationally representative study from India. SSM - Population Health, 22, 101409. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssmph.2023.101409

Tripathi, R. (2024). Impact of Restricted Public Transport Since COVID-19 on Women in Rural India: A Qualitative Study. Research in Transportation Business & Management, 56, 101167. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rtbm.2024.101167

Wang, C., Yao, X., Sinha, P. N., Su, H., & Lee, Y.-K. (2022). Why do government policy and environmental awareness matter in predicting NEVs purchase intention? Moderating role of education level. Cities, 131, 103904. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cities.2022.103904

Downloads

Published

2025-06-02

How to Cite

1.
Kowsar H, Naidu RVK, Salma SU, Kumar LS, Vikram M. A Comprehensive Study on Challenges and Opportunities for Enhancing Professional Education among Muslim Women. J Neonatal Surg [Internet]. 2025Jun.2 [cited 2025Oct.24];14(30S):218-25. Available from: https://www.jneonatalsurg.com/index.php/jns/article/view/6937

Most read articles by the same author(s)