A Female PDTs' Journey in the Northern Areas of Pakistan
This paper presents a learning journey of a female Professional Development Teacher (PDT) in the context of the northern areas of Pakistan. This journey highlights difficulties for a female PDT in constructing her image as a leader or a 'change agent' in a traditionally male-dominated society.
The challenges were many, such as difficulty in applying leadership theory into the realities of the context. However, the supporting factors enabled the PDT to establish herself as a leader. The factors included guidance from the head of the Professional Development Centre, Northern Areas (PDCN), family support, putting theory into practice, relationships, reflection on action, and colleagues support. Carrying out PDCN's pragmatic activities provided her a leadership role. She led diversified groups of people. Her empathetic approach at the grassroots level, her democratic leadership style, her reflective practice and interpersonal skills gradually proved her ability, which shows that females can also be good leaders.
From this experience, she draws the processes and strategies for a female leader in a rural male-dominated society, which could help others to learn. Based on her learning, she gives recommendations to future female PDTs and other institutions that are striving to develop female leaders in the region.