The Importance of Indifference: Household Influence on the Education and Aspirations of Female Pakistani College Students

Households matter. They influence the educational attainment and occupational aspiration
development of students. Scholars have found an overwhelmingly positive relationship between
household involvement and student educational and aspirational outcomes (Gorard and See 2013;
Erdem and Kaya 2020). However, most investigations of this relationship have occurred within a
Western context. In this study, I explore the influence of households on low-income female
Pakistani college students’ educational and occupational journeys. By interviewing 46 students
from Karachi, Pakistan, I identify the sources of influence in their academic lives and future
aspirations. I find that households play a central role in the lives of all students. However, data
reveals that household involvement is not always beneficial for students. The students who feel
most confident about their educational attainment and future aspirations are those who belong to
households that are largely indifferent and uninvolved in their lives. The indifference of their
households provides students with the freedom and flexibility to explore and pursue their dreams
without having to adapt to social expectations or pressures. Household involvement is only
advantageous when households are aligned with student aspirations and have the social and
cultural capital to be able to appropriately guide them. Involved households that are misaligned
with student aspirations or lack the capital required to provide informed advice may produce
additional barriers to the attainment of student education and aspirations. This study complicates
our current understanding of the role of households in student educational and aspirational
outcomes. It urges us to re-evaluate theories of education within non-Western contexts before
claiming generalizability. I conclude by advocating the provision of mentorship and financial aid
resources to support female Pakistani students as they work to make their dreams a reality.