Benchmarking Gender Equality in Lithuanian Agriculture: From EU Commitments to Rural Reality

Introduction
Gender equality has been embedded in the European Union’s legal and policy framework for decades. The principle of equal pay was established in the 1957 Treaty of Rome. The 1996 European Commission Communication introduced gender mainstreaming across all EU policy areas. The EU Gender Equality Strategy 2020–2025 further emphasises equal labour market participation, reduction of gender pay gaps, and improved work–life balance. In addition, the CAP 2023–2027 explicitly promotes gender equality and women’s participation in farming. This paper benchmarks the situation of women in Lithuanian agriculture against these strategic commitments.

Methods
A policy benchmarking approach is applied, using EU strategic documents as normative reference points. Quantitative indicators from Eurostat and national statistics are analysed to assess Lithuania’s alignment with EU objectives across three dimensions: economic equality, policy integration, and work–life balance.

Results
Lithuania represents a paradox within the EU: while it has one of the highest shares of women farm managers, structural inequalities remain pronounced. A persistent gender pay gap of around 6% in agriculture challenges the principle of equal pay. Women-managed farms are significantly smaller and generate substantially lower economic output, limiting economic parity. Although gender equality is recognised in CAP objectives, Lithuania’s CAP Strategic Plan does not systematically address the structural constraints faced by women farmers. Furthermore, time-use data show that 60% of women versus 33% of men perform daily domestic work, indicating an unequal distribution of care responsibilities, which constrains women’s participation in innovation and leadership.

Conclusions
The Lithuanian case demonstrates a clear implementation gap between EU gender equality commitments and rural realities, highlighting the need for gender-sensitive agricultural policy and targeted structural support.