„THE WINNERS AMONG THE LOSERS“: THE POST - COMMUNIST SITUATION AT THE GLANCE OF BP6 PROMETEA PROJECT CONTEXTAssoc. Prof. Virginija ŠidlauskienėInstitute for Gender Studies of Šiauliai University

Knowledge, Institutions and Gender: an East-West Comparative Study

The politics of knowing: research, institutions and gender in the making27-28th November, 2008, Prague

WOMEN'S CAREERS IN S&T IN

LITHUANIA

Why women are

underrepresented in S&T fields of research?

HERITAGE: fomer Soviet ideology promoted gender ideology, but not gender awareness

GENDER AND DEMOCRATIZATION

The Baltic States governments have made a clear political choice by selecting an expert-bureaucratic model against participatory-democratic model, for implementing gender equality policies and gender mainstreaming as a part of human development and democratization

COMPARISION OF R&TD SYSTEMS IN BALTICS

R&TD systems are organized and functioning in a similar way (some differences caused by strategic policy decisions in the 90’ties)

After accession to EU the RTD systems are moving to the common EU model

COMPARISION OF R&TD SYSTEMS IN BALTICS

Soviet heritage:- Fundamental and applied research

in Academies of Sciences- Research separated from HE,

technological research institutes were under subordination of sectoral ministries (narrow specialization)

COMPARISION OF R&TD SYSTEMS IN BALTICS

Main RTD developments were subordinated by military-industrial complex of SU

RTD priorities were: math, physics, chemistry

Only GOV sector of RTD Research institutes (some HE institutions)

in close relations with the economy entities under contracts

R&TD REFORM AFTER 1990

Gender equality in LT RTD Soviet system as propaganda statement

BUT well developed social security and child care facilities system were developed by poor economic resources

MAJOR CHANGES AFTER 1990

The main Laws on Science & Studies were adopted

Too large & non-balanced system inhereted, difficult economical situation

International evaluation of RTD Reform of RTD infrastructure-increase

competitive research funding, reorganizing sector of institutes, HE autonomy, high expand international contacts, cooperation

Still week collaboration RTD-BUS

THE RECENT POLITICAL EVENTS WITH MAJOR INFLUENCE ON RESEARCH POLICY IN LITHUANIA

National Lisbon Strategy Implementation Programme for 2005-2008

Provisions of the LT S&T White Paper to implement Strategy

Long-Term RTD Strategy & a Programme

THE RECENT POLITICAL EVENTS WITH MAJOR INFLUENCE ON RESEARCH POLICY IN LITHUANIA

2006 updated the Programme for the Development of High Technologies

2007 revised Priority Trends for R&ED BUT not made real prioritization of any

TRD fields 2007 foresight study of national economy

were started for priority RTD trends

LEGAL ACTS RELATED TO GENDER EQUALITY

The Law on Equal Opportunities for Women and Men, 1998 (amended in 2004)

The Law on Equal Opportunities adopted in 2004

2003-2004 NAP on Equal Opportunities for Women and Men

2005-2009 NAP aims to integrate gender equality in education and research systems

IMPLEMENTATION TOOLS

EU Framework programmes Structural Funds programming

period 2007-2013 Atoption of Strategy “Development

of Gender Equality in Science and Research”, 2008

COMMON PROBLEMS IN POST-COMMUNIST

under representation of women in sciences and research

high under-representation of women in exact sciences and technologies

a large gender disproportion in the highest academic and scientific management levels

COMMON PROBLEMS IN ALL 5 COUNTRIES

bigger average salaries for men researchers in comparison to women researchers

no evidence for improvement of

this situation

BARRIERS IN WOMEN'S SCIENTIFIC CAREERS IN S&T IN THE BALTIC STATES

A path to science Scientific achievements and

work environment Work and family balance

PARTICIPATION IN DECISION MAKING BODIES OF SCIENTIFIC INSTITUTIONS

Administrative positions and scientific careers

A position of leadership Gender and administrative work

SOLVING THE PROBLEM OF GENDER INEQUALITY IN S&T

Recognition of gender inequality in scientific community

Policy actions for encouraging women's active participation in S&T

Grants and scholarships for the scientific career of women

A quota system

SOLVING THE PROBLEM OF GENDER INEQUALITY IN S&T

Support after maternity leave Proposals for encouraging

women in sciences The service of women in

sciences

Gender equality model

NO- for the equality through sameness-when women accept male norms, remains the masculinity standards.

YES – for equal valuation and respect of differences and transformation of gendered practices for both women and men, transformation of relationships between them.

Thanks for your kind attention! msc@cr.su.lt