The Method of Searching for the First Female Sociologist in Lithuania, its Application and Possible Examples of Female Pioneers of Sociology

Abstract

When developing research on the history of sociology in Lithuania, it is relevant to include the aspect of gender. The Lithuanian history of the first half of the 20th century is dominated by male surnames, therefore, after describing the historical context and including clear criteria, the method of searching for the first female sociologist in Lithuania is formed and applied, and thus possible examples of the female predecessors of sociology are singled out. After the 2004 Burawoy-inspired discussions of public sociology, there was an opportunity to expand the concept of the science of sociology. By critically analysing the available data, five personalities were suggested (Gabrielė Petkevičaitė-Bitė (1861–1943), Julija Beneševičiūtė-Žymantienė (1845–1921), Stefanija Paliulytė-Ladigienė (1901–1967), Cezaria Baudouin de Courtenay Ehrenhreutz Jędrzejewiczowa (1885–1967) and Ieva Simonaitytė (1897–1978)), whose activities could be related to the field of sociology and who could be classified as female pioneers of Lithuanian sociology.