Ethnography of Workplace: Support Initiatives and Challenges for Working Mothers in Islamabad

Abstract

In recent decades, women's increased participation in the formal workforce has reshaped traditional gender norms and challenged long standing social structures. This shift is not only economic, but also highly political, affecting how institutions, families, and communities negotiate power, accountability, and inclusion. Workplaces have evolved into critical areas where gendered expectations, access to opportunity, and support mechanisms intersect. Understanding the environment in which women work is vital for assessing broader issues of equality, representation, and the responsiveness of institutions to changing social realities. To understand how fair and inclusive a society is, present study intends to explore the environment and culture of workplaces that employ women. These settings disclose a lot about whether women are treated fairly, if they have a say in decision-making, and whether institutions are adapting to women's rising roles in society. This qualitative ethnographic research explores the support initiatives and challenges working mothers’ experience who are employed in the formal sectors of Islamabad, particularly in banks and government offices. With a rising number of women entering the workforce in Pakistan, especially in urban centers, the tension between professional commitments and traditional caregiving roles has become increasingly visible. Despite the presence of progressive workplace policies in some institutions, the implementation and cultural acceptance of these initiatives remain inconsistent and fragmented. This study also seeks to understand how institutional policies, workplace environments, and societal expectations intersect to shape the lived experiences of working mothers with children who are not yet enrolled in schools, in a socio culturally complex urban context like Islamabad. Employing an ethnographic approach, the research draws on in-depth interviews, participant observation, and field notes collected from working mothers at banks and government offices. The aim is to examine how these women navigate structural limitations, familial pressures, and cultural norms while maintaining their professional roles. The study is grounded in role theory and liberal feminist theory, offering a dual lens to analyze the dynamics of gendered labor, role conflict, and institutional equity. These frameworks illuminate the expectations placed upon women to fulfill both caregiving and professional responsibilities and how institutional and cultural systems either exacerbate or mitigate this conflict.