South Asian Academy of Management

Synopsis

This case traces the personal and professional journey of Alina, a Punjabi-speaking woman from Sibi, Balochistan, navigating multiple roles and challenges in a context shaped by patriarchal norms and ethnic divisions. Despite early leadership promise and strong family support, Alina’s career progression at her university remained stagnant for 18 years. The case highlights her struggles with gender-based societal expectations, repeated pregnancy loss, subtle workplace harassment, and ethnic discrimination in promotions. Alina’s story illustrates the complexities of balancing career aspirations, caregiving responsibilities, and personal challenges within a socio-cultural setting that often marginalizes women and ethnic minorities.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this case discussion, students should be able to:

1. Analyze how intersecting factors such as gender, ethnicity, and organizational culture shape career trajectories, particularly for women in underrepresented or marginalized communities.
2. Evaluate HRM and institutional practices (e.g., promotions, harassment policies, inclusion initiatives) in light of Alina’s experiences, identifying gaps between formal policy and lived reality.

Suitable Courses

Human Resource Management; Managing Diversity and Inclusion

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Questions for discussion

1. To what extent were Alina’s experiences in life and career shaped by her gender and ethnicity?
2. What can other working women in Balochistan and elsewhere learn from this story?
3. What role can male colleagues and leaders play in creating more inclusive and equitable workplaces?

Authors: Beenish Malik and Jawad Syed

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