Eyes Wide Shut: Gender Blindness and the Market of Privilege in Polish Academia

Abstract

This article makes a compelling contribution in advancing our understanding of the unintended consequences of gender equality initiatives within Polish higher education institutions (HEIs) by demonstrating the willful ignorance of the persistent inequalities, which we term the phenomenon of “eyes wide shut.” Consistent with the previous reference to neoliberal policies perpetuating a “market of privilege” that fosters gender blindness and enhances systemic inequalities, our analysis extends these by drawing attention to the lack of ownership and accountability in addressing these inequalities. It is about the emerging phenomenon of willfully ignoring persistent gender inequalities by choosing not to take a stance, despite being afforded that choice as a social actor. Drawing on in-depth qualitative research involving 30 academics from Polish business schools, we reveal a widespread belief in meritocracy, especially among male participants, who claim that academic work is solely competence-based and thus disregard gender inequalities. This gender-blind stance not only neglects the structural challenges faced by women but also perpetuates male-dominated and hegemonic academic norms. We identify a paradox where gender equality initiatives, often viewed as unnecessary or forced, provoke resistance from some male academics, who perceive them as discriminatory. Men in the study expressed feelings of reverse discrimination, citing concerns over women's increasing presence in leadership roles and all-female research teams. At the same time, female academics frequently recount experiences of marginalization and inequality. These narratives showcase how gender blindness reinforces a market of privilege by willfully ignoring them. We make the case that alongside concepts such as gender blindness as a mechanism that upholds a market of privilege in academia, where perceived neutrality conceals persistent gender biases, there is also the reluctance to own up and to exercise the choice afforded to social actors to address gender inequalities. We conceptualize this willful refusal to act as part of the phenomenon we term “eyes wide shut.” We explain this phenomenon as another unintended consequence of neoliberal systems modeled after Western standards that fail to create genuine equality. We adopt a place-based orientation that helps us explain this willful ignorance as a consequence of the broader sociocultural and historical context in which Polish HEIs operate.