The study reported in this paper critically examines the unintended consequences of gender equality initiatives within Polish higher education institutions (HEIs), focusing on how neoliberal policies perpetuate a “market of privilege” that fosters gender-blindness and enhances systemic inequality. Drawing on in-depth qualitative research involving 30 academics from Polish business schools, we reveal that widespread belief in meritocracy, especially among men participants, who claim that research team selection is solely competence-based, disregarding gender inequalities. This gender-blind stance not only neglects the structural challenges faced by women, such as caregiving responsibilities and implicit biases. It also perpetuates men-dominated and hegemonic academic norms. We identify a paradox where gender equality initiatives, often viewed as unnecessary or forced, provoke resistance from some men 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-women research teams. At the same time, women academics frequently recount experiences of marginalization and inequality. These narratives underscore how gender-blindness undermines efforts to address gender inequality, thus reinforcing a market of privilege. Our research contributes to advancing the concept of gender-blindness as a mechanism that upholds a market of privilege in academia, where perceived neutrality conceals persistent gender biases. We argue that neoliberal systems modeled after Western standards fail to create genuine equality, as they ignore the broader socio-cultural and historical context of Polish HEIs. We add to accounts of market of privilege a nuanced placed-based perspective that enriches the way gender dynamics act as events perpetuating unique conditions.
