Excellence in science: a critical affirmative response

Abstract

Excellence in science is defined as a neutral process for the selection and recognition of worthy theories and researchers. This principle is based on the metricization of academic life through employing universal criteria that support fair play and equal opportunities. However, feminist theories have claimed that the organization of science based on excellence is never neutral or objective. Meritocracy reproduces inequality from social structures, particularly those related to gender stereotypes and barriers in researchers’ career evaluation, as well as research outcomes. In this paper, we propose that excellent knowledge is produced only through gender and science in the making.