From Traditional Nomadism to Digital Nomadism: Conceptual Overview of Women’s Rights and Labour Transformations in Central Asia

Zhypar Murzabekova, Zulfiia Kulanbaeva, Nazira Tursunbaeva, Satkynai Nasbekova and Nazira Tenizbek Kyzy

Published: 2026/06/01

Abstract

This article offers a high-level conceptual overview of how women’s roles and rights in post-Soviet Central Asia may be understood through the long arc from nomadic livelihoods to contemporary platform-mediated work. Organized around illustrative materials from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan, the paper brings together historical-comparative insights, feminist legal theory, and labour-economy perspectives to map how legal pluralism (customary norms, religious law, and state legislation) intersects with shifting labour regimes. The findings demonstrate that while nomadic societies relied on women’s economic contributions in livestock management, textile production and trade, legal frameworks such as adat and sharia systematically excluded them from property ownership and decision-making. Soviet policies introduced formal gender equality, expanding women’s access to education and employment. However, these reforms were largely instrumental and failed to dismantle patriarchal structures. Economic liberalization during the post-Soviet transition weakened social protections and reinforced traditional gender norms. The emergence of digital labour platforms provided new opportunities for women, yet persistent barriers such as algorithmic discrimination, lack of legal protections, and gendered societal expectations continued to limit their participation in the digital economy. The synthesis indicates potential policy directions for gender-sensitive policies that address labour precarity and promote inclusive digital economies. The findings contribute to ongoing discussions on legal pluralism, gendered labour transformations, and policy development in post-Soviet states, offering a foundation for further research on digital labour market regulations and gender equity initiatives in Central Asia.

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