Political and public aspects of the activity of the Lithuanian women's movement, 1918-1923
ENe Lithuanian state existed from the thirteenth to the eighteenth century, when it fell under Russian rule. From the second half of the nineteenth century, as nationalist movements spread across central and eastern Europe, demands were also raised for the (re)establishment of an independent state in Lithuania. is was also the beginning of the Lithuanian women’s movement which prioritised the attainment of national freedom over the drive for equal political rights for both sexes. Women were active campaigners for Lithuanian schools, the Catholic Church and Lithuanian script, which was prohibited by Tsarist Russia a er the revolt in 1863-4. At the end of the nineteenth century they founded the rst charity organisation, soon followed by the rst women’s organisations, Lietuvos moteru sajunga (the Lithuanian Women’s Union or LWU) and Lietuvos katalikiu moteru sajunga (the Lithuanian Catholic Women’s Association or LCWA). Lithuanian women’s contribution was lively and e ective both during World War I and in the years that followed. During the war their e orts were concentrated in Russia and western Europe because in 1915 Lithuania was occupied by Germany, which prohibited any social and political activity. US president Woodrow Wilson’s peace programme strengthened the country’s determination to reestablish independence, which was declared in February 1918. Between November 1918 and October 1920, Lithuania fought for independence against the invading armies of both Poland and Russia. In the same year the rst provisional constitution was adopted, guaranteeing the equality of all citizens, irrespective of their gender. e period from 1918 to 1923 saw the blossoming of women’s rights both in the political arena and in the sphere of paid employment. [...]. [Extract, p. 287]
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