In Lithuania, two out three of the most important political offices are occupied by women. According to United Nations the political empowerment is one of the most important issues of gender equality. Therefore, the case of Lithuania might be considered as an anomaly at first sight. This essay will seek to analyze the problem of gender equality in Lithuania.

1. 1
Hochshule Bremen
POLITICAL MANAGEMENT AND GENERAL STUDIES
Academic Writing and Research
KAMILĖ KREIVYTĖ
GENDER EQUALITY IN LITHUANIA
Bremen, 2015m. September 14

2. 2
Gender Equality in Lithuanian
Despite the values of the twenty first century, which are declared and protected by plenty of
organizations like the United Nations or the European Union, however discrimination based on
gender still persists. Gender equality is a human right, but our world still cannot guarantee equal
prospects for women and men. 1
In many countries women have less opportunities for economic
participation than men as well as education and political representation. 2
Nevertheless, in
Lithuania, two out three of the most important political offices are occupied by women. According
to United Nations the political empowerment is one of the most important issues of gender
equality. Therefore, the case of Lithuania might be considered as an anomaly at first sight. This
essay will seek to analyze the problem of gender equality in Lithuania. Firstly, by looking at the
main theoretical framework of this paper - the United Nations concept of global gender equality
issues. Furthermore, the Global Gender Index 2014, which was announced by the World Economic
Forum will be explored. Secondly, these concepts will be applied in the case of Lithuania and a
review of the gender equality index will be made. Lastly, the most apparent problem in gender
inequality will be addressed – the lack of women in the political arena.
In order to comprehend this issue one must understand the main theoretical framework of this
analysis, which is the rate of equality of gender (The Global Gender Gap Index 2014) and the view
on gender issues that are reported by the United Nations. The Global Gender Gap Index 2014 was
published by the World Economic Forum and there are three basic concepts underlined in the
index: measuring gaps; outcome variables rather than input; ranks countries according to gender
equality not to the empowerment of women.3
Reports have been done about 142 countries and one
the methods in presenting this data is the global snapshot of the gender gap in the divided into four
subindexes: health outcomes, gap in education attainment, economic and political outcomes. The
subindexes of health outcomes and education attainment cover from 94% to 96% of the gap.4
However, the gap between women and men on economic (cover 60%) and political participation
(21%) is remarkably sizeable.5
As one can observe, the statistics presented indicate us that the gap
1
C. Grown, G. Rao Gupta Taking action: achieving gender equality and empowering women UN Millennium Project
Task Force on Education and Gender equality, London, 2005.
http://www.unmillenniumproject.org/documents/Gender-complete.pdf
2
United Nations Goal 5: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls
http://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/gender-equality/
3
World Economic Forum The Global Gender Gap Index 2014: Measuring the Global Gender Gap, 2014
http://reports.weforum.org/global-gender-gap-report-2014/part-1/the-global-gender-gap-index-2014/
4
Ibid, World Economic Forum
5
Ibid.

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of reproductive health and education empowerment is not as questionable, as the economic and
political areas. These subindexes, which are developed by the World Economic Forum, are the
same key issues, which are outlined by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). UNFPA
is the part of United Nations and assumes responsibility for the expansion of better conditions for
women and young people.6
According UNFPA, “Gender equality will be achieved only when
women and men enjoy the same opportunities, rights and obligations in all spheres of life” and the
organization distinguishes four key issues: reproductive health, economic, political and
educational empowerment. Thus one can see the interconnection of the Global Gender Gap Index
and the UNFPA.
Whilst reviewing the gap of health, economic and educational empowerment in Lithuania
according to the Global Gender Gap Index 2014, It provides Lithuania with a score of 0.721 (0.00
= inequality, 1.00 = equality) and ranks it 44th
out 142 countries. 7
The score of Economic
Participation and Opportunity is 0.738 (sample average being - 0.569), the score of distribution of
gender in labor force is 0.95 (average – 0.67), the score of professional and technical workers is
2.15 (average – 0.65). Other scores like wage equality for similar work, estimated earned income
and legislators, senior officials and managers, which are included in the score of Economic
Participation and Opportunity, are from 0.62 to 0.64. One can see that the Educational Attainment
is an aspect that those not cause concern due to its score being 0.994 (average – 0.935) and in two
of four rates (literacy and enrolment in tertiary education) Lithuania is in the first place. As well
the score of Health and Survival being 0.979 (average – 0.960) allows Lithuania to be placed first
in healthy life expectancy amongst 142 countries. Considering the data presented, one can see that
the inequality in wage and the proportion of occupation of managerial positions is still present.
However, such a high ranking in the distribution of gender amongst professional and technical
workers, where Lithuania is in the first place cannot be disregarded. As well the labor force in
Lithuania possess almost the same amount of males as females. Furthermore, having such a high
score in Education and Health can be considered as strong evidence as Lithuania is leading in three
indexes related to it.
One of the most important issues of gender inequality in Lithuania is the visible gap in the political
empowerment. Whilst looking at the data one can see a unusual trend. As mentioned before, two
of three main political figures in Lithuania are women: the President of Lithuania – Dalia
Grybauskaitė and the Speaker of Seimas (parliament) of Lithuanian – Loreta Graužinienė. At first
6
United Nations Population Fund http://www.unfpa.org/about-us#
7
World Economic Forum The Global Gender Gap Index 2014: Measuring the Global Gender Gap, 2014

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glance, it could be perceived that Lithuania does not have any issues in the equality of gender in
the political arena. On the other hand the score of Political Empowerment in Lithuania, reported
by The World Economic Forum is – 0.171 (average – 0.214), which can be considered quite low.
This score includes the number of women in the parliament (0.32); women in ministerial positions
(0.08) and years with a female head of the state (0.12). The inequality of gender in the political
sphere is the reason of the low common rate of gender equality in the state. The supposition about
sex equality in Lithuania are usually based on the fact of significant political figures, but as we can
see according to the score of Political Empowerment equality is not as present.
Lastly, some presumptions must be included about this unconventional case of the Lithuanian
political situation. The report of the Global Gender Gap Index 2014 was written in 2014, however
at in the same year the presidential elections in Lithuania were held. There is a possibility that the
researchers did not include the result of this elections, where President Dalia Grybauskaitė was
elected for a second term. This result could possibly have an impact on the score of years with a
female head of the state. As well as the result of the common score of Political participation could
increase. On the other hand, it is clear that statistic data can measure quantitative, but not
qualitative issues. Moreover, we cannot disregard the historical heritage of Soviet Union, which
lead to entire problems in the political culture, one of these relations can be patron-client
relationship.8
As reported by United Nations gender inequality reveals itself in reproductive health, educational,
economic and political empowerment. The main quantitative research about the current global
situation of sex equality is being written by World Economic Forum and Lithuania is ranked 44
worldwide. As one can observe the the gap in health and education is quite insignificant, however
the economic and political empowerment of women is low in Lithuania. Despite quantitative facts
we cannot ignore the significance of qualitative research for this case. Considering that the political
system of Lithuania is multi-party parliamentary republic with some semi-presidentialism
features9
and that the influential figures in its political life are women, this shows that they can
make important changes in the political agenda. 10
In my view, further studies can be based and
focused on the qualitative research of gender equality in Lithuania.
8
H. Örnebring Clientelism, Elites, and the Media in Central and Eastern Europe, European Studies Centre, Oxford,
2012.
9
A. Lukošaitis Lietuvos politinė sistema: sąranga ir raida, Poligrafija ir informatika, 2004.
10
L. Kulikauskienė Lietuvos Respublikos Konstitucija (Constitution of Lithuania), Native History, 2002.

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Bibliografy
1. Grown C., Rao Gupta G. Taking action: achieving gender equality and empowering
women UN Millennium Project Task Force on Education and Gender equality, London,
2005. http://www.unmillenniumproject.org/documents/Gender-complete.pdf
2. Kulikauskienė L. Lietuvos Respublikos Konstitucija (Constitution of Lithuania), Native
History, 2002.
3. Lukošaitis A. Lietuvos politinė sistema: sąranga ir raida, Poligrafija ir informatika,
2004.
4. Örnebring H. Clientelism, Elites, and the Media in Central and Eastern Europe,
European Studies Centre, Oxford, 2012.
5. United Nations Population Fund http://www.unfpa.org/about-us#
6. United Nations Goal 5: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls
http://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/gender-equality/
7. World Economic Forum The Global Gender Gap Index 2014: Measuring the Global
Gender Gap, 2014 http://reports.weforum.org/global-gender-gap-report-2014/part-1/the-
global-gender-gap-index-2014/