25 Years Gender Studies in Lithuania [2016-11-30]
Vilnius University Gender Studies Centre turns 25 in 2017. To celebrate the occasion, the Centre is preparing a national scientific conference which aims to give a meaningful overview of the emergence of gender studies in Lithuania, to highlight the contemporary issues and problems, and to discuss the gender policy dissemination on both the academic and the governmental level.
Institutionalised gender studies contributed to the criticism of the traditional worldview, developed gender equality ideas, promoted students' critical thinking, their ability to grasp the significance of gender identity formation and to comprehend the importance of gender policy development and mainstreaming.
However, Lithuanian higher education institutions still do not have any gender studies programmes which would lead to a qualification in the area of theoretical and methodological gender studies or feminist criticism. Therefore, the higher education institutions are not able to systematically prepare qualified experts that would be able to analyse and evaluate gender equality policies and would be capable to ensure gender mainstreaming in the public and private sectors.
It is clear that changes are needed. The joint forces of gender scholars, science policy-makers, the studies’ quality control institutions, university administrations and other experts are required in order to establish gender studies as a degree granting study programme which would produce experts that can professionally implement gender equality in Lithuania and the European Union.
National scientific conference "25 years Gender Studies in Lithuania" will be held on 31th March, Vilnius university, Theatre Hall, 3 Universiteto str.
Conference organising commitee:
Assoc. prof. dr. Lijana Stundžė (chair),
Prof. (HP) dr. Dalia Leinartė,
Dr. Deimantė Šėporaitytė – Vismantė,
Assoc. prof. dr. Ilona Michailovič,
Dr. Rasa Lužytė,
Laima Statulevičienė (secretary).