Preparing Teachers in Pakistan to Meet The Needs of Learners Colloquium

Mary photographed with 32 men at the colloquium

Colloquium pamphlet, March 19-21, 1956

As a female Fulbright scholar, Dr. Mary O'Rourke was able to make a large impact on the education system in Pakistan. In March of 1956, O'Rourke led a colloquium titled "Preparing Teachers in Pakistan to Meet the Needs of Learners" where she was the main speaker to a large group of male educators. Here you see O'Rourke photographed at the conference with 32 Pakistani men.O'Rourke’s presence forced recognition of women who were thriving in higher education. She was able challenge the way the Pakistani education system was built and what educators could look like. O’Rourke sent the pamphlet pictured here back home to her family in Cambridge, MA while she was in Pakistan. During the colloquium there were few other female presenters. Among the few, most worked in schools for girls. Due to the observance of “purdah, meaning curtain” in the Muslim religion, women were secluded from men after puberty [3]. This meant that women were left to teach girls and women since they were typically separate from men in the workplace.  As a woman in a public, professional setting during this conference and during her time as a Fulbrighter, O'Rourke demonstrated to those around her that women were  capable of working alongside and educating men.   

[3] Hanna Papanek, “Purdah in Pakistan: Seclusion and Modern Occupations for Women,” Journal of Marriage and Family 33, no. 3 (August 1971): 517-519.