„THE WINNERS AMONG THE LOSERS“: THE POST - COMMUNIST SITUATION AT THE GLANCE OF BP6 PROMETEA PROJECT CONTEXT Assoc. Prof. Virginija Šidlauskienė Institute 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 making 27-28th 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  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  NAP on Equal Opportunities for Women and Men  NAP aims to integrate gender equality in education and research systems

IMPLEMENTATION TOOLS  EU Framework programmes  Structural Funds programming period  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!