ABSTRACT
This chapter contributes to a further micro-foundation of neo-institutionalist theory. It takes a close look on how the sociopolitical requirement of equality is linked to the growing imperative of excellence and asks which attitudes professors adopt regarding the relationship of gender equality and excellence. The basic assumption is that knowledge about equality discourses and institutions does not automatically lead to an unbiased behaviour. The link between knowledge and action is rather inconsistent and ambiguous. The concept of gender knowledge and the theoretical corpus of neo-institutionalism guide the in-depth analysis of two conducted interviews with professors at German universities. One is working in the field of business administration and the other one in psychology. They negotiate the relationship between excellence and gender equality. The analysis will show that this relationship can be interpreted in quite a different – inclusive and exclusive – way: Gender equality and/or excellence. Therefore, there is some scope of action concerning equality in today’s neoliberal academia, although it means that male connotated norms must be questioned fundamentally.
