Lithuanian Women in Agriculture: Gendered Farming Practices and Landscape Diversification

Abstract

This article aims to contribute to the production of knowledge on gender dynamics in the European farming sector. It explores women’s roles in Lithuanian agriculture and their impact on the rural landscape. The study employs a mixed-methodology approach that combines statistical analyses, interviews with 50 farming families, and farm visits. The results highlight distinct characteristics of the Lithuanian context, both specific to Lithuania and common to other CEE countries. Women constitute a larger portion of the agricultural workforce than the European average. However, they primarily participate in small-scale farming, are less eager to expand their farms compared to men, and claim less aid than their male counterparts. Their roles mostly involve manual, low-skilled labour and subsistence activities. Finally, women farmers actively participate in conserving and diversifying traditional rural landscapes, thereby contributing to the Europeanisation of agricultural practices.