| Abstract [eng] |
The Master’s thesis “Ideological Differences Based on Gender: The Case fof Lithuanian Youth” examines ideological value differences among Lithuanian youth based on gender, drawing on data from the 2008 and 2017 European Values Study. The primary focus is on value polarization across two dimensions: economic and social. This study seeks to determine whether significant value differences exist between young men and women and how these differences have evolved over time. The theoretical foundation is based on Inglehart and Norris’s modern gender gap theory, which emphasizes that in developed societies, women tend to adopt more progressive values, while men’s value orientations remain less variable. The literature review also explores how value shifts can arise due to modernization and socioeconomic changes. The research methodology involves quantitative analysis of European Values Study data. Questions in the economic dimension pertain to traditional topics such as market regulation and the state’s role in welfare provision. In the social dimension, variables are categorized into family and relationship issues, immigration, and moral attitudes. Data were grouped using principal component factor analysis and the nonparametric Mann-Whitney-Wilcoxon rank-sum test. Preliminary results show that while the social and economic dimensions enable the analysis of youth’s values’ attitudes, no statistically significant gender-based results were identified. However, it was observed that the value orientations of Lithuanian youth reflect a general trend toward conservatism among both men and women, which may influence future social and political policymaking. The thesis highlights the need for further research to better understand these trends and their implications for Lithuanian society and social policy. |
