Addressing gender equality in science is not possible without addressing other forms of discrimination as well. From the perspective of a distinctive social group, excellence in science should be the result of:
1. non-discriminating recruitment into science,
2. non-discriminating conditions for the achievement of excellent results,
3. scientific and societal recognition of excellence based on meritocracy.
In reality, excellence is based on a set of exclusions originating from discrimination within a society, global inequalities and contingencies or circumstances. In fact, the possibility to be recognized as ‘excellent’ depends on forces of exclusions which are beyond the individual’s sphere of influence, individual capacity, productivity, creativity or talent.
In the globalised world of science (and education), location/nation with a certain set of cultural factors determines the level of modernisation and the role of the knowledge economy. The importance of knowledge and expertise greatly varies from one society to another, thus, influencing not only the position of science, but also the position of scientists and their performance. In other words, there is a kind of closed circle between exclusions produced by a location, and self-exclusions of some locations which already lag behind in the modernisation process. Brain drain contributes to the reproduction of those differences.
The unfavourable position of science and education which can be observed in former socialist societies and former industrialized societies going through or having gone through the process of “transition” (i.e. East-Central European societies within the EU or outside) is closely connected to the feminisation of science.
According to the Enwise Report, scientific work is characterised by low salaries, low prestige and bad working conditions. Research clearly shows that both location and gender are crosscutting differences as regards the material, epistemic, technical and administrative as well as emotional support which scientists receive. Women (and other non-dominant groups) are more vulnerable if meritocracy is not exercised through transparent and objective sets of rules and procedures. One major message is that diversity lies at the very core of innovation and exploration, and of knowledge making itself, and if power inequalities are not decreased, knowledge itself looses power, purpose and meaning.