Impact of Patriarchy on Brain Waste of Female Doctors in Pakistan

Abstract

The overarching aim of this research is to offer a nuanced and evidence-based exploration of the brain waste of female doctors in the national healthcare system of Pakistan. The study will highlight the societal factors that push doctors out of the profession, with a specific focus on the narratives provided by female doctors. This anthropological study is based on a qualitative phenomenological approach, having constructivist ontology and interpretivist epistemology. Data was collected through case studies and in-depth interviews with 30 female doctors (who are unemployed or left jobs) in the “Twin cities” (Islamabad and Rawalpindi) using snowball sampling. For data analysis, the Stevick-Colaizzi-Keen method was incorporated.  The findings are in strong compliance with the idea of the Feminist Political Economy of Health (FPEH) which states that material and cultural discrimination against females influences their social conditions. Although medicine is considered a highly idealized profession for females, lack of sufficient employment opportunities, patriarchal setup, rigid gender role expectations, and lack of adequate support and encouragement from family members make it hard for female doctors to continue with their career pursuits and hence become the target of brain waste. This study is significant as it sheds light on the underexplored issue of brain waste among female doctors in Pakistan, revealing how societal and cultural constraints impede their professional growth.