Social exclusion in academia through biases in methodological quality evaluation: On the situation of women in science and philosophy

•Clarifies how social exclusion in academia (esp. philosophy) works.•Shows how interpretation and weighing of methodological criteria can be biased.•Argues that contributions from certain groups are systematically disqualified.•Analyzes that biased evaluation can be local (situational) or global (habitual).•Concludes that only mechanical solutions can effectively change the situation.

Empirical studies show that academia is socially exclusive. I argue that this social exclusion works, at least partly, through the systematic methodological disqualification of contributions from members of underrepresented social groups. As methodological quality criteria are underdetermined their interpretation and weighting can be biased with relation to gender, race, social background, etc. Such biased quality evaluation can take place on a local or global level. The current situation of women in academic philosophy illuminates this. I conclude that only mechanical solutions can effectively change the situation.