On the Unseen Reproduction of Sexist Bias in Professional Education: Challenges for Achieving Equitable Universities

Abstract

This article analyzes the invisible reproduction of gender bias in professional training at Argentine universities, focusing on the role of those who implement gender and diversity programs. From a critical feminist and intersectional perspective, the research employs a qualitative approach, triangulating national and institutional statistical data, documentary analysis of policies, and reflections drawn from professional practice. The findings reveal that, despite the female majority in enrollment, vertical (glass ceiling) and horizontal (low representation in STEM) segregation persist, influenced by stereotypes and a gendered habitus that shapes the relationship with knowledge. The study highlights how universities, as social institutions, reproduce structural violence and how multiple inequalities manifest, including the invisibilization of trans experiences in official records. While institutional advances—such as protocols and training (the Micaela Law)—are acknowledged, the study emphasizes that these are insufficient without profound cultural change and broader institutional commitment. The article concludes that dismantling sexism requires collective action, “re-educating” with a gender perspective, strengthening support networks, and ensuring that universities are equitable and violence-free spaces—a constant challenge in the face of setbacks in rights. The need to transform structures to ensure that higher education does not perpetuate discrimination is emphasized.