In the Gender Equality Index, Lithuania rose from 20th to 17th place, scoring 64.1 points out of a hundred. However, this rating is still 6.1 points below the EU average.
According to EIGE data, since 2010, Lithuania’s rating has increased by 9.2 points. The 3.5-point increase since the 2020s is the fifth highest among member countries.
“Due to its faster progress compared to other EU countries, Lithuania rose three places from last year’s index,” states the EIGE report.
According to the Institute, the main changes occurred in the areas of time and power: they were the determining factors for better evaluation.
“We see that the situation is improving, we can be happy about that, but it is important to look deeper. According to EIGE experts, leisure activities are the most important indicator of the country’s progress. This is an important part of every one of our lives, but it is worth considering why in 2023, men and women in Lithuania have “equalized” only in terms of leisure time, while the load of housework and wages still show a big gap”, – says Equal Opportunities Controller Birutė in a statement released on Wednesday. Sabatauskaite.
According to her, comparisons with 2016 are very important, showing that in Lithuania there has been a decrease in the number of women cleaning the house and cooking every day, but the number of men doing the same has not changed at all in seven years – it remained at 29 percent.
“It seems that the division of labor has not improved, rather, more robot pumps, other household appliances or service providers have started working in households, helping to reduce the work that falls on women’s shoulders. It is even sadder that the percentage of men devoting time every day to caring for children and other relatives has decreased. Although it has also decreased among women, the gap remains quite large,” the controller comments on the results of the EIGE study.
Lithuania scored the most points in the field of work, where its rating reaches 75.7 points – 1.8 points more than in 2020. However, in this area, Lithuania fell by five positions, as the progress was slower than in other EU countries.
The gap between Lithuanian men and women is most evident in the field of power, where the country scored 48.6 points and fell from 14th place to 18th. However, it is noticeable that Lithuania’s result improved by 3.2 points.
In the field of time, Lithuania’s rating improved by 11.5 points compared to 2020.
EIGE notes that Lithuania has practically not improved in the field of health – only a positive change of 0.2 points has taken place, and in this respect Lithuania’s position remains relatively low: since 2010, Lithuania is still in 24th place. According to the institute, this is due to stagnant attitudes towards health services and health-related behaviours.
The highest places in the Gender Equality Index are retained by Sweden, the Netherlands and Denmark, and the lowest this year by the Czech Republic, Hungary and Romania.
The Gender Equality Index measures the progress of gender equality in EU countries in six areas: work, money, knowledge, time, power and health. In the field of work, the employment of women and men and the division into “female” and “male” professions in the labor market are evaluated. In the area of money, it is taken into account how financial resources (earnings, income) are distributed between the sexes and in which economic situation women and men live.
In the field of knowledge, the participation of women and men in the education system and the gender balance in feminized specialties are evaluated. In the area of time, it is measured how much time women and men devote to household, child care and leisure. In the field of power, the gender balance in politics, economy and organizations of public importance is analyzed. In the field of health, the health status of women and men, health-related behavior and access to health services are assessed.
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#Lithuania #rose #20th #place #17th #place #gender #equality #index
2024-09-11 04:48:10
Table of Contents
Lithuania’s Progress in Gender Equality: A Mixed Bag
Lithuania has made significant strides in gender equality, rising from 20th to 17th place in the European Institute for Gender Equality’s (EIGE) Gender Equality Index, with a score of 64.1 points out of 100. While this is a notable improvement, the country still lags behind the EU average by 6.1 points. Despite this, Lithuania’s rating has increased by 9.2 points since 2010, making it one of the top five countries with the largest improvement in the EU [[1]].
The EIGE report highlights that the main changes occurred in the areas of time and power, which were the determining factors for better evaluation. Equal Opportunities Controller Birutė Sabatauskaitė notes that leisure activities are an important indicator of a country’s progress, but it is concerning that men and women in Lithuania have only “equalized” in terms of leisure time, while a significant gap remains in housework and wages [[2]].
In terms of specific areas, Lithuania scored the most points in the field of work, with a rating of 75.7 points, an increase of 1.8 points from 2020. However, the country fell by five positions in this area, as progress was slower than in other EU countries. The largest gap between men and women was observed in the field of power, where Lithuania scored 48.6 points and fell from 14th to 18th place. Despite this, the country’s result improved by 3.2 points.
The field of time saw a significant improvement, with Lithuania’s rating increasing by 11.5 points compared to 2020. On the other hand, the country has made little progress in the field of health, with only a 0.2-point increase, leaving Lithuania in 24th place since 2010. According to EIGE, this is due to stagnant attitudes towards health services and health-related behaviors.
It is worth noting that Lithuania has been recognized as one of the top-performing countries in terms of gender equality globally. In the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Report 2023, Lithuania ranked 6th in Europe and 9th in the world [[3]].
The Gender Equality Index is a comprehensive tool that measures the progress of gender equality in EU countries across six areas: work, money, knowledge, time, power, and health. It provides a nuanced understanding of the complex issue of gender equality and enables countries to identify areas for improvement.
while Lithuania has made progress in gender equality, there is still much work to be done. The country must continue to address the disparities in areas such as power and health and work towards a more equitable society for all.
References:
Lithuania’s Progress in Gender Equality: A Mixed Bag
Lithuania has made significant progress in gender equality, rising from 20th to 17th place in the Gender Equality Index with a score of 64.1 points out of 100. While this improvement is commendable, Lithuania still lags behind the EU average by 6.1 points. According to the European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE), Lithuania’s rating has increased by 9.2 points since 2010, with a 3.5-point increase since the 2020s, making it the fifth highest among member countries.
The main areas of improvement were in the fields of time and power, which were the determining factors for Lithuania’s better evaluation. However, the country still faces significant challenges in achieving true gender equality. In the field of work, Lithuania scored 75.7 points, a 1.8-point increase from 2020, but fell by five positions due to slower progress compared to other EU countries. The gap between Lithuanian men and women is most evident in the field of power, where the country scored 48.6 points, falling from 14th to 18th place.
One of the most important indicators of a country’s progress is leisure activities, which are an essential part of everyday life. However, in Lithuania, men and women have only “equalized” in terms of leisure time, while the load of housework and wages still show a significant gap. According to Equal Opportunities Controller Birutė Sabatauskaitė, “it seems that the division of labor has not improved, rather, more robot pumps, other household appliances or service providers have started working in households, helping to reduce the work that falls on women’s shoulders.” This is a concerning trend, as it indicates that women are still shouldering a disproportionate burden of household responsibilities.
Another area of concern is healthcare, where Lithuania has practically not improved, with only a 0.2-point increase. This stagnant progress is attributed to stagnant attitudes towards health services and health-related behaviors. Lithuania’s position remains relatively low, ranking 24th among EU countries since 2010.
Despite these challenges, there are reasons to be optimistic. Lithuania has made significant progress in certain areas, such as the empowerment of women in the labor market. According to the World Bank, in 2021, 90.4% of women and 97% of men in Lithuania had an account, with the female rate higher than the Europe & Central Asia average, but lower than the high-income average [[2]].
Furthermore, the Council of Europe has urged Lithuania to adopt clear laws covering gender reassignment surgery, recognizing the importance of legal frameworks in promoting gender equality [[1]]. The United Nations has also acknowledged Lithuania’s efforts to promote gender equality, highlighting the country’s progress in areas such as women’s participation in the labor market and political representation [[3]].
while Lithuania has made significant progress in gender equality, there is still much work to be done. The country must address the persistent gaps in areas such as power, healthcare, and household responsibilities to achieve true gender equality. By acknowledging these challenges and working towards solutions, Lithuania can continue to rise in the Gender Equality Index and become a leader in promoting gender equality in the EU.
References:
[1] Council of Europe. (2024). Council of Europe urges action on gender reassignment law. Retrieved from
[2] World Bank. (2021). Lithuania. Retrieved from
[3] United Nations. (2020). Republic of Lithuania national-level review on the implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. Retrieved from
