The Role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Advancing Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment in Academia: A Conceptual Framework
Keywords:
Artificial Intelligence, women, gender equality, academic field, conceptual framework
Abstract
Education has a major impact on a society's political, social, economic, technological, and human capital development. The history of women's exclusion from higher education has resulted in a lack of diversity among the highest levels of leadership, particularly at significant institutions. Barriers, including institutional bias, gender preconceptions, and a lack of administrative support, must be overcome by women who aspire to hold leadership positions in higher education. However, AI is an effective tool for promoting gender equality and empowering women around the world through a number of charitable endeavours. The main aim of the study was to present a conceptual framework of AI's role for gender equality and women’s empowerment in academia. This study used a qualitative and conceptual design of study. A total of 30 identified reviewed articles published between 2015 and 2025 were systematically analysed using thematic analysis to identify the role of AI among women in academia. Three major themes were identified: AI capabilities and tools, empowerment and support mechanisms, and gender equality and institutional impact. A conceptual framework was developed from these findings and shows that these three framework components were connected through a multifaceted, intricate network of interactions and introduced to guide future research that explains the role of AI in advancing gender equality and women’s empowerment in academia. The study serves as a catalyst for creating a more equitable AI landscape. Consequently, this study will promote diversity, which underscores the importance of gender diversity in AI, and can lead to more innovative and well-rounded solutions.
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References
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26. Ebrahimi, M, Rahimi, Sharifi, B.M, Sadat, D, Amiri, N., Khalil, S & Quraishi, T. (2024). Empowering Women through Artificial Intelligence: Opportunities and Challenges. Journal Electrical and Computer Experiences, 2(2), 38–46.
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28. Najafi, G., Popalzay, F., Darman, Saleh, D, Akbari & Quraishi, T.T. (2025). Strengthening Women's Leadership and Management in the Digital Age: Innovation, Opportunities, and Challenges International. Journal of Applied Research and Sustainable Sciences (IJARSS) 3, 247 -260
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30. Quaquebeke, N. V., & Gerpott, F. H. (2023). The Now, New, and Next of Digital Leadership: How Artificial Intelligence (AI) Will Take Over and Change Leadership as We Know It. Journal of Leadership & Organizational Studies, 30 (3), 265-275.
31. Rana, M. M., Siddiqee, M. S., Sakib, M. N., & Ahamed, M. R. (2024). Assessing AI adoption in developing country academia: A trust and privacy-augmented UTAUT framework. Heliyon, 10, e37569.
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33. Srinate, S, SIti, Shimpi, L.S.S & Singh, A.K (2025). Bridging Inclusion with Security- A Case Study-Driven Framework for Sustainable Digital Banking in India’s Urban Centers, International Journal of Latest Technology in Engineering Management & Applied Science, 14, 6 .
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37. World Economic Forum. (2024). Global Gender Gap Report 2024. https://www.weforum.org/publications/global-gender-gap-report-2024
2. Ahmad, M., Subih, M., Fawaz, M., Alnuqaidan, H., Abuejheisheh, A., Naqshbandi, V., & Alhalaiqa, F. (2024). Awareness, benefits, threats, attitudes, and satisfaction with AI tools among Asian and African higher education staff and students. Journal of Applied Learning & Teaching. https://doi.org/10.37074/jalt.2024.7.1.10
3. Albuquerque, J., Rienties, B., Holmes, W., & Hlosta, M. (2024). From hype to evidence: exploring large language models for inter-group bias classification in higher education. Interactive Learning Environments, 33(3), 2332–2354. https://doi.org/10.1080/10494820.2024.2408554
4. Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2006). Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 3(2), 77–101.
5. Bulathwela, S., Pérez-Ortiz, M., Holloway, C., Cukurova, M., & Shawe-Taylor, J. (2024). Artificial Intelligence Alone Will Not Democratise Education: On Educational Inequality, Techno-Solutionism and Inclusive Tools. Sustainability, 16(2), 781. https://doi.org/10.3390/su16020781
6. Cady, S. H., Jacobs, R., Koller, R., & Spalding, J. (2014). The change formula. OD PRACTITIONER, 46(3), 32-39.
7. Chauhan, P., & Kaur, G. (2022). Gender Bias and Artificial Intelligence: A Challenge within the Periphery of Human Rights. Hasanuddin Law Review, 8(1), 46–59.
8. Cowan, M., Fox, G., & Larson, K. (2024). Can AI Level the Playing Field? How AI-Assisted Assessment Impacts Gender Bias in Student Evaluations of Marketing Instructors. Journal of Marketing Education, 47(2), 126-137.
9. Ehlers, U. D. (2020). Digital leadership in higher education. Journal of Higher Education Policy and Leadership Studies, 1(3),6-14.
10. El Morr, C. (2024). The Need for a Feminist Approach to Artificial Intelligence. Proceedings of the AAAI Symposium Series, 4(1), 332-333. https://doi.org/10.1609/aaaiss.v4i1.31812
11. Ferk Savec, V., & Jedrinović, S. (2025). The Role of AI Implementation in Higher Education in Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals: A Case Study from Slovenia. Sustainability, 17(1), 183. https://doi.org/10.3390/su17010183
12. Helmiatin, H., Hidayat, A., & Kahar, M. R. (2024). Investigating the adoption of AI in higher education: A study of public universities in Indonesia. Cogent Education, 11(1), 2380175.
13. Hwang, G. J., Xie, H., Wah, B. W., & Gašević, D. (2020). Vision, challenges, roles and research issues of Artificial Intelligence in Education. Computers and Education: Artificial Intelligence, 1, 100001.
14. Jin, Y., Yan, L.,Vanessa Echeverria, V., Gašević, D. & Roberto Martinez-Maldonado, R.M. (2025). Generative AI in higher education: A global perspective of institutional adoption policies and guidelines, Computers and Education:Artificial Intelligence, 8, 100348, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.caeai.2024.100348.
15. Kalim, U., Kanwar, A., Sha, J. & Huang, R. (2025). Barriers to AI adoption for women in higher education: A systematic review of the Asian context. Smart Learning Environment, 12, 38. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40561-025-00390-5
16. Kausar, G., Saleem, S., Subhan, F., Suud, M. M., Alam, M., & Uddin, M. I. (2023). Prediction of Gender-Biased Perceptions of Learners and Teachers Using Machine Learning. Sustainability, 15(7), 6241. https://doi.org/10.3390/su15076241
17. Karim, R. A., Kamarudin, S., Zaidi, A., Rashdi, W.F.A.W.M. & Ghani, N.F C. (2021). A Case Study of Orang Asli Women Role in Achieving Gender Equality. Journal of Educational Research and Indigenous Studies, 3 (1), 237-245.
18. Kumar, S., & Choudhury, S. (2022). Gender and feminist considerations in artificial intelligence from a developing-world perspective, with India as a case study. Human Social Science Communication 9, 1–9. doi: 10.1057/s41599-022-01043-5
19. Leavy S. (2018). Gender bias in artificial intelligence: The need for diversity and gender theory in machine learning. Proceedings of the 1st International Workshop on Gender Equality in Software Engineering – GE ’18, 14-16.
20. Liu. X.M & Murphy, D. (2022). Applying a Trustworthy AI Framework to Mitigate Bias and Increase Workforce Gender Diversity, IEEE International Symposium on Technology and Society (ISTAS), Hong Kong, 1-5.
21. Maurat, J.I., Isip, E.V., & Lumabas, A.G. (2024). A Comparative Study of Gender Differences in the Utilization and Effectiveness of AI-Assisted Learning Tools in Programming Among University Students. Proceedings of the 2024 International Conference on Artificial Intelligence and Teacher Education.
22. Meharunisa, S., Almugren, H., Sarabdeen, M., Mabrouk, F., & Kijas, A. C. M. (2024). The impact of artificial intelligence on women's empowerment, and work-life balance in Saudi educational institutions. Frontiers in psychology, 15, 1432541.
23. Møgelvang, A., Bjelland, C., Grassini, S., & Ludvigsen, K. (2024). Gender Differences in the Use of Generative Artificial Intelligence Chatbots in Higher Education: Characteristics and Consequences. Education Sciences, 14(12), 1363.
24. Mahmood, S., Rehman, S. U., and Ashraf, M. U. (2023). Organizational culture, AI training, and technological tools: influencing women's leadership success in the unique context of the UAE. Journal Excellence Management Science. 2, 18–28.
25. Mat Yusoff, S., Mohamad Marzaini, A., Hao, L. Zainuddin, Z.& Basal, M.H (2025). Understanding the role of AI in Malaysian higher education curricula: an analysis of student perceptions. Discover Computing. 28, 62. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10791-025-09567-5
26. Ebrahimi, M, Rahimi, Sharifi, B.M, Sadat, D, Amiri, N., Khalil, S & Quraishi, T. (2024). Empowering Women through Artificial Intelligence: Opportunities and Challenges. Journal Electrical and Computer Experiences, 2(2), 38–46.
27. Moges, B. (2019). One-Hand Clapping: Gender Equality and Its Challenges in Pastoralist Secondary Education in Afar Region--A Quality Concern, Educational Research and Reviews, 4(6), 217-227.
28. Najafi, G., Popalzay, F., Darman, Saleh, D, Akbari & Quraishi, T.T. (2025). Strengthening Women's Leadership and Management in the Digital Age: Innovation, Opportunities, and Challenges International. Journal of Applied Research and Sustainable Sciences (IJARSS) 3, 247 -260
29. Pedró, F., Subosa, M., Rivas, A., & Valverde, P. (2019). Artificial Intelligence in Education: Challenges and Opportunities for Sustainable Development. Paris: UNESCO. https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000366994
30. Quaquebeke, N. V., & Gerpott, F. H. (2023). The Now, New, and Next of Digital Leadership: How Artificial Intelligence (AI) Will Take Over and Change Leadership as We Know It. Journal of Leadership & Organizational Studies, 30 (3), 265-275.
31. Rana, M. M., Siddiqee, M. S., Sakib, M. N., & Ahamed, M. R. (2024). Assessing AI adoption in developing country academia: A trust and privacy-augmented UTAUT framework. Heliyon, 10, e37569.
32. Roumate, F. (2023). Ethics of Artificial Intelligence, Higher Education, and Scientific Research. In: Roumate, F. (eds) Artificial Intelligence in Higher Education and Scientific Research. Bridging Human and Machine: Future Education with Intelligence. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-19-8641-3_10
33. Srinate, S, SIti, Shimpi, L.S.S & Singh, A.K (2025). Bridging Inclusion with Security- A Case Study-Driven Framework for Sustainable Digital Banking in India’s Urban Centers, International Journal of Latest Technology in Engineering Management & Applied Science, 14, 6 .
34. Shah S.S. (2024). Gender Bias in Artificial Intelligence: Empowering Women Through Digital Literacy. Premier Journal of Artificial Intelligence,1:1000088
35. Somerville, C., & Pesantes, M. A. (2022). SDG 5 – A Long, Short, and Unfinished History of the Journey to Gender Equality. Before the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
36. Voutyrakou, D.A. & Skordoulis, C.(2025).Algorithmic Governance: Gender Bias in AI-Generated Policymaking?. Human Centric Intelligent System, 5, 385–417. https://doi.org/10.1007/s44230-025-00109-2
37. World Economic Forum. (2024). Global Gender Gap Report 2024. https://www.weforum.org/publications/global-gender-gap-report-2024
Published
2025-10-25
How to Cite
Karim, R. A. (2025). The Role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Advancing Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment in Academia: A Conceptual Framework. European Scientific Journal, ESJ, 21(43), 73. https://doi.org/10.19044/esj.2025.v21n43p73
Section
Special Editions
Copyright (c) 2025 Rafidah Abd Karim
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
