About gender – publicly

This is a project of interdisciplinary seminars on gender issues in politics and culture. It was held in 2003-2004 .

Aim of the project – the development of sexuality and gender representation in nowadays culture and practices analysing texts and the current social and political events. Seminars promoted a dialogue between the academic , critical , and artistic discourses. In the cultural and artistic events the most pressing social and political issues like social inequality , globalization, the gap between the West, sexual emancipation , violence , marginalization and citizenship were discussed. The project was focused on the critical interpretive skills , political and social problems associated with ensuring equal opportunities , formulation of perceptions and decision strategies.

The first event of the project ” Gender and cinema : images, angles , the audience” took place in 2003 , December, Vilnius. It consisted the theoretical seminars, film screenings in “Skalvija” movie theater and a contest of short videos. Workshop on Gender and cinema begins with the cycle of events , combining academic, social , political and artistic debates.

The second workshop on Gender and pop culture took place on 4-5 November,2004  in Vilnius . The workshop was accompanied by a review of the video films competition review. It was a students program of the Vilnius Academy of Arts, Textile Department, which was called ” Trans – parade : gender (changing) fashion” , the cultural thematic articles were published in the press cycle .

The third seminar on “Gender and / as politics ” was focused on the political and cultural representation, also body policy (human rights situation in sexual / feminist perspective, trafficking in women , prostitution , “indecency ” regulation and censorship ) issues , problems of economic relations between gender and poverty  were discussed.

The partners are:

Equal Opportunities Ombudsman Office ;
Academy of Fine Arts ;
Skalvija Film Center ;
Goethe Institute in Vilnius.
Project Sponsor: Open Society Institute ( New York ) .

Gender montage: Post-Soviet films

The second collection of the documentaries under the project Gender montage has been produced and demonstrated on March 1-9, 2006 in international festival “One World” in Prague. The collection consists of seven documentary films from seven countries of Eastern Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia. The films address some of the most acute problems in each post-Soviet country: women’s human rights violations, the impact of institutionalized and ingrained inequality, and the effects of gender stereotyping. A special event was organised at Women Correction House in Panevezys for 170 imprisoned women with the show of two documentary movies from the collection, discussion, books charity campaign and consultations of Equal Opportunities Ombudsman.

Partners: Klaipeda, Siauliai and Kaunas Universities, Panevezys Educational Center, Women NGO in Shirvintai.

The following films were shown at the mentioned events:
Ironic film directed by Estonia’s Jaak Kilmi and Andres Maimik, Beauty of the Motherland, the main characters of which are the former producer of the Misis Estonia beauty pageants, the other leader of the children’s’ national movement emphasise different values, though having the same aspirations, corresponding the needs of the patriarchal society.
The film directed by Azerbaijani director Ali Isa Djabarov entitled Wishing 7 sons and one daughter, revealing cruel laws of the patriarchal family where only boys are expected to be born.
The film by the Georgian director Liana Jakeli entitled Invisible narrates the story of girls in the Azerbaijani community, that upon turning 14-15 years must leave school. The general belief is that they need no educations as the most important thing is to get her married before her beauty faded away.
Mongolian director Urantchimeg Nansalma tells us in his film entitled Silk Patterns that in Mongolia as many as 80 pro cent of students are girls. However, diploma of higher education is hardly of any help to them in finding a job. They must try their fortune elsewhere and do the most menial jobs.
Uzbek director Furkatbek Jakvalchodjijev’s film entitled Hack Workers narrates of fates of women outcast from the family and the society. He relates that women, ousted from homes and trying to survive, accept slavery and even forced prostitution.
Heroines of the Live Containers, a film directed by Tadjik director Orzu Sharipov, are women that risk their lives to save their families from starvation and transport heroine inside them, as live containers. This is how they most often find their way into prison.

More information about the project:

Opinion survey in Lithuania: politics and women

In 2013, Centre of Equality Advancement initiated study of the factors affecting women’s participation in politics and leading positions in public life.

Public opinion on attitudes to gender in Lithuania divided in two ways. 45 % of Lithuanian population in years of 15-74 believes that approach to men is better in Lithuania. On the other hand, 40 % of respondents believe that there is the same attitude towards women and towards men. The first opinion is more often supported by women ( especially older , more educated ) , and the inhabitants of the cities(especially in smaller towns ) . The second opinion is often supported by men,  mostly residents of rural areas , and also respondents with the highest monthly family income. More than one in ten (13% ) of the respondents had no opinion on the matter .

The greater part of the Lithuanian population (52 %) says that men have better career opportunities comparing with women. Fewer than one in three (30 % ) of participants believe that both sexes have equal professional opportunities . The first opinion is often supported by women ( with higher monthly family income , higher education ) , and residents (mostly of the age of 30-49) of urban areas. The second opinion is often supported by men,  rural residents , women claiming to left-wing views. And only a small part ( 2%) of respondents believe that women have better career opportunities compared to men. Approximately one in five (16 %) had no opinion on the matter.

The study was funded by the Ministry of Social Security and Labour, carrying out the National Equal Opportunities program in 2003 and 2004 .

Books for reformatory

The books and magazines, which were gathered during the support campaign, was donated to the female reformatory library in Panevėžys.

Support campaign was initiated by Zita Čepaitė – writer, who has written a book about women prisoners.

Publishers, who donated the books: Aktea, Apyaušris, Eugrimas, Gamta, Strofa, Tyto Alba, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Culture, Institute of Philosophy and Arts Research, Lithuanian Bible Society, the Society of Lithuanian ethnic culture Ethos, Vilnius Academy of Fine Arts, some prints were donated by – Editorial office of Travel and Entertainment magazine. Support campaign was also supported by private individuals.

The event was organized by the Centre for Equality Advancement and the Equal Opportunities Ombudsman’s Office.

The event was supported by Ministry of Justice.