Generative AI: challenges and opportunities for women in South Asia

Qurat ul Ain Nizamani; Madhumita Takalkar; Anita Jahid

doi:10.1007/978-3-032-21147-7_21

Generative AI: challenges and opportunities for women in South Asia

Qurat ul Ain Nizamani
, Madhumita Takalkar
, Anita Jahid

Crown Institute of Higher Education
Acknowledge Education

Research output: Chapter in Book / Conference Paper › Chapter › peer-review

Abstract

This paper identifies and analyses the gender-specific challenges faced by women in South Asian countries, focusing on the opportunities and barriers presented by Generative AI (GenAI). While advancements in digital literacy and education have improved women’s access to technology, cultural norms, financial constraints, and inadequate policy frameworks continue to hinder women’s entry into GenAI-driven careers. Given the scarcity of research explicitly addressing South Asian women’s inclusion in GenAI, this review paper analyses key restrictions and proposes strategies to bridge the gender gap by ensuring equitable access to education, skill development, and employment in the GenAI-driven economy. This research aligns with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 5: Gender Equality, aiming to empower women by promoting their participation in GenAI and technology fields, addressing gender-based barriers, and advocating for inclusive policies. By filling a critical gap in the existing literature, this study provides valuable insights to support SDG 5 in South Asia.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	The 2026 International Conference on Breakthroughs in Artificial Intelligence (BAI’26)
Editors	Kevin Daimi, Abeer Alsadoon
Place of Publication	Switzerland
Publisher	Springer
Pages	253-261
Number of pages	9
ISBN (Electronic)	9783032211477
ISBN (Print)	9783032211460
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-032-21147-7_21
Publication status	Published - 2026
Externally published	Yes
Event	International Conference on Breakthroughs in Artificial Intelligence, BAI 2026 - Tunis, Tunisia Duration: 4 May 2026 → 6 May 2026 Conference number: 1st

Publication series

Name	Lecture Notes in Networks and Systems
Volume	1907 LNNS
ISSN (Print)	2367-3370
ISSN (Electronic)	2367-3389

Conference

Conference	International Conference on Breakthroughs in Artificial Intelligence, BAI 2026
Abbreviated title	BAI
Country/Territory	Tunisia
City	Tunis
Period	4/05/26 → 6/05/26

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 4 Quality Education
SDG 5 Gender Equality
SDG 10 Reduced Inequalities
SDG 17 Partnerships for the Goals

Keywords

GenAI
Gender Gap
Generative AI
SDG 5
South Asia
Women

Access to Document

10.1007/978-3-032-21147-7_21

Cite this

Nizamani, Q. U. A., Takalkar, M., & Jahid, A. (2026). Generative AI: challenges and opportunities for women in South Asia. In K. Daimi, & A. Alsadoon (Eds.), The 2026 International Conference on Breakthroughs in Artificial Intelligence (BAI’26) (pp. 253-261). (Lecture Notes in Networks and Systems; Vol. 1907 LNNS). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-032-21147-7_21

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abstract = "This paper identifies and analyses the gender-specific challenges faced by women in South Asian countries, focusing on the opportunities and barriers presented by Generative AI (GenAI). While advancements in digital literacy and education have improved women{\textquoteright}s access to technology, cultural norms, financial constraints, and inadequate policy frameworks continue to hinder women{\textquoteright}s entry into GenAI-driven careers. Given the scarcity of research explicitly addressing South Asian women{\textquoteright}s inclusion in GenAI, this review paper analyses key restrictions and proposes strategies to bridge the gender gap by ensuring equitable access to education, skill development, and employment in the GenAI-driven economy. This research aligns with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 5: Gender Equality, aiming to empower women by promoting their participation in GenAI and technology fields, addressing gender-based barriers, and advocating for inclusive policies. By filling a critical gap in the existing literature, this study provides valuable insights to support SDG 5 in South Asia.",

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author = "Nizamani, \{Qurat ul Ain\} and Madhumita Takalkar and Anita Jahid",

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booktitle = "The 2026 International Conference on Breakthroughs in Artificial Intelligence (BAI{\textquoteright}26)",

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Nizamani, QUA, Takalkar, M & Jahid, A 2026, Generative AI: challenges and opportunities for women in South Asia. in K Daimi & A Alsadoon (eds), The 2026 International Conference on Breakthroughs in Artificial Intelligence (BAI’26). Lecture Notes in Networks and Systems, vol. 1907 LNNS, Springer, Switzerland, pp. 253-261, International Conference on Breakthroughs in Artificial Intelligence, BAI 2026, Tunis, Tunisia, 4/05/26. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-032-21147-7_21

Generative AI: challenges and opportunities for women in South Asia. / Nizamani, Qurat ul Ain; Takalkar, Madhumita; Jahid, Anita.
The 2026 International Conference on Breakthroughs in Artificial Intelligence (BAI’26). ed. / Kevin Daimi; Abeer Alsadoon. Switzerland: Springer, 2026. p. 253-261 (Lecture Notes in Networks and Systems; Vol. 1907 LNNS).

Research output: Chapter in Book / Conference Paper › Chapter › peer-review

TY - CHAP

T1 - Generative AI

T2 - International Conference on Breakthroughs in Artificial Intelligence, BAI 2026

AU - Nizamani, Qurat ul Ain

AU - Takalkar, Madhumita

AU - Jahid, Anita

N1 - Conference code: 1st

PY - 2026

Y1 - 2026

N2 - This paper identifies and analyses the gender-specific challenges faced by women in South Asian countries, focusing on the opportunities and barriers presented by Generative AI (GenAI). While advancements in digital literacy and education have improved women’s access to technology, cultural norms, financial constraints, and inadequate policy frameworks continue to hinder women’s entry into GenAI-driven careers. Given the scarcity of research explicitly addressing South Asian women’s inclusion in GenAI, this review paper analyses key restrictions and proposes strategies to bridge the gender gap by ensuring equitable access to education, skill development, and employment in the GenAI-driven economy. This research aligns with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 5: Gender Equality, aiming to empower women by promoting their participation in GenAI and technology fields, addressing gender-based barriers, and advocating for inclusive policies. By filling a critical gap in the existing literature, this study provides valuable insights to support SDG 5 in South Asia.

AB - This paper identifies and analyses the gender-specific challenges faced by women in South Asian countries, focusing on the opportunities and barriers presented by Generative AI (GenAI). While advancements in digital literacy and education have improved women’s access to technology, cultural norms, financial constraints, and inadequate policy frameworks continue to hinder women’s entry into GenAI-driven careers. Given the scarcity of research explicitly addressing South Asian women’s inclusion in GenAI, this review paper analyses key restrictions and proposes strategies to bridge the gender gap by ensuring equitable access to education, skill development, and employment in the GenAI-driven economy. This research aligns with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 5: Gender Equality, aiming to empower women by promoting their participation in GenAI and technology fields, addressing gender-based barriers, and advocating for inclusive policies. By filling a critical gap in the existing literature, this study provides valuable insights to support SDG 5 in South Asia.

KW - GenAI

KW - Gender Gap

KW - Generative AI

KW - SDG 5

KW - South Asia

KW - Women

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105039169061

UR - https://go.openathens.net/redirector/westernsydney.edu.au?url=https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-032-21147-7_21

U2 - 10.1007/978-3-032-21147-7_21

DO - 10.1007/978-3-032-21147-7_21

M3 - Chapter

AN - SCOPUS:105039169061

SN - 9783032211460

T3 - Lecture Notes in Networks and Systems

SP - 253

EP - 261

BT - The 2026 International Conference on Breakthroughs in Artificial Intelligence (BAI’26)

A2 - Daimi, Kevin

A2 - Alsadoon, Abeer

PB - Springer

CY - Switzerland

Y2 - 4 May 2026 through 6 May 2026

ER -

Generative AI: challenges and opportunities for women in South Asia

Abstract

Publication series

Conference

UN SDGs

Keywords

Access to Document

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