It is estimated that the total number of women holding leadership positions in Lithuania in the public and private sectors is 21 per cent, although they are more educated than men, although women make up 61 per cent of all persons with higher education, according to the Office of the Equal Opportunities Ombudsman. Meanwhile, according to Eurostat data, in 2023, women in the European Union earned 12 per cent less than men.

To draw attention to the challenges of gender equality in various areas and promote public awareness and inclusion, the Kauno kolegija Higher Education Institution (HEI) community was invited to participate in the discussion “Women in Business, Arts and Higher Education”.

Promoting gender equality is not just a formal commitment

The keynote address of the event “As for a woman, not bad: (in)visible gender inequality” was delivered by Monika Orechova, expert and project manager of the Centre for Equality Advancement. She drew attention to the often unnoticed aspects of gender inequality and invited a discussion on how to recognise and address them.

The discussion was attended by Dr Virginija Vitkienė – PhD of Arts, Head and Coordinator of International Art and Science Projects, Laura Blaževičiūtė – Director-General of TV3 Group Lithuania, Simona Krasauskienė – Head of NJ World, which develops the brands Kakė Makė and Nelly Jelly, and Prof. Dr Diana Žaliaduonytė – Director-General of LSMU Kaunas Hospital.

‘I am glad that in our organisation when celebrating International Women’s Day, we are not limited to just paying attention to our colleagues and colourful tulips in the offices, but are initiating a meaningful event-discussion about what problems need to be solved and what achievements of women we can not only be proud of, but also learn from,’ notes Welfare Manager Smiltė Juraitė, who organised the event and moderated the discussion.

She notes that Kauno kolegija HEI is actively implementing a gender equality project, aiming not only to prepare a gender equality plan but also to initiate changes in organisational culture through real measures and their implementation.

‘These initiatives create an open dialogue, respect and equal cooperation between community members. Promoting gender equality is not just a formal commitment – ​​it is an investment in a stronger, more open and innovative organisational culture,’ emphasises S. Juraitė.

She adds that caring about gender equality is a crucial step in creating a just and progressive society. Ensuring equal opportunities for all, regardless of gender, promotes creativity, innovation and overall growth in well-being.

‘Events like this not only raise awareness but also inspire changes that contribute to creating a more tolerant and inclusive environment,’ notes Welfare Manager S. Juraitė.

Without additional measures, wages will only equalise after about 100 years

M. Orechova, an expert and project manager at the Centre for Equality Advancement, reveals that on the one hand, the situation in Lithuania regarding gender equality has improved compared to the situation 10 or 20 years ago, which is confirmed by the slow but steady rising assessment of the Lithuanian Gender Equality Index.

‘However, women’s lives in Lithuania are not a bed of roses or tulips. Even in one of the best-rated areas of the index – work – there is a tendency that good assessment results are determined by the active participation of women in the labour market, but women and men are unevenly distributed in it,’ shares M. Orechova.

The expert at the Centre for Equality Advancement also notes that women work more in the health, social work, education or service sectors, and the work in these sectors is less well paid. The wage gap between women and men still remains at around 13 per cent.

‘It will take about a hundred years for wages to equalise without additional measures. Women are not safe on the streets, in places of entertainment, even in their own homes – various experiences of sexual harassment at work and in public places are constantly coming to light, in 2024 14 women were killed by their intimate partners,’ says M. Orechova.

She emphasises that the roots of all these problems lie in stereotypes that limit women, considering them weaker, less valuable members of society: ‘Of course, historically, the situation is improving, but any positive change does not happen by itself, it requires active efforts from all of us.’

Growing female leadership is a change already underway

S. Krasauskienė, the Head of NJ World, which develops the brands Kakė Makė and Nelly Jelly, emphasises that International Women’s Day is not only an opportunity to celebrate achievements but also a reminder that leadership, opportunities and decision-making must be open to everyone, regardless of gender.

‘Participating in the discussion, I was once again convinced that women’s leadership in business, art and science is not just an aspiration – it is an already ongoing change, which we are strengthening by our example. More and more often, women occupy strategic positions, influence global decisions and inspire the new generation to see the world without prejudice. However, leadership is not only personal success but also the ability to bring people together, create strong communities and open doors for others,’ emphasises S. Krasauskienė.

The Head of NJ World notes that each of us has a responsibility not only to achieve our goals but also to inspire others, to show that every dream is worth realising.

‘Lifelong learning, the courage to talk about your ideas and trust each other, the courage to try and make mistakes – this is the key to a future where leadership has no gender, only a vision and the courage to implement it,’ says S. Krasauskienė, Head of NJ World.

Both women and men face similar challenges

Speaking about the challenges faced by women working in management positions in television, TV3 Group Lithuania Director-General L. Blaževičiūtė reveals that when working in the media, it is necessary to react quickly to everything, to decide here and now how to respond to emerging situations.

She points out that, especially due to recent events, the media is working 24 hours a day, and before presenting the most important events to the public, journalists are faced with a really large amount of negative information. This is universal for both women and men working in the media.

‘When I became a manager, it happened that in meetings where I was the only woman among men, no one shook my hand. However, I am very happy that over the past ten years, the situation has changed for the better. I also bow my head to all working mothers, because combining a career with motherhood is incredibly difficult,’ shares L. Blaževičiūtė and adds that it is very important to learn to ask for help.

‘We, active women, want to do everything ourselves, so we often forget that there are loving relatives nearby who want to help us. Let them do it. However, I am very lucky to have a job that, even after more than 20 years, makes my heart flutter and makes me happy, where I can still grow, which I have learned to combine with motherhood, where we can initiate and contribute to positive change in society. This is a great gift,’ says L. Blaževičiūtė TV3 Group Lithuania Director-General.

The project is implemented under the Science Development Programme of the Ministry of Education, Science and Sport of the Republic of Lithuania, Progress Measure No. 12-001-01-02-01 “Strengthening innovation ecosystems in science centres” activity, focused on the implementation of the priorities of the European Research Area, aiming at institutional changes, and is financed under the 2021–2027 European Union funds and/or the Economy and/or the Economic Recovery and Resilience Enhancement “New Generation Lithuania” measure, i.e. from the funds of the European Union’s NextGenerationEU programme.