Why did feminist philosophers argue that gender bias was built into the philosophical profession?

Feminist philosophers argued that gender bias was deeply embedded in the philosophical profession because the discipline’s historical foundations and standards were constructed around a male-centric perspective.1

The core of this critique includes several key points:

• Defining the Philosopher: The traditional "paradigmatic philosopher" was conceived as inherently rational, dispassionate, and independent—traits historically associated with men. Consequently, women were often viewed as irrational, emotional, and morally immature, making the concept of a "female philosopher" appear to be a contradiction in terms.12
• Exclusionary Canons: For centuries, the philosophical canon largely omitted women’s contributions and ignored issues of specific concern to women. When gender was addressed, it was frequently used to rationalize women's lower social status and exclusion from public life.1
• Structural Bias: Feminist scholars realized that the problem could not be solved simply by hiring more women. Because the qualifications for membership in the profession were defined by male-coded intellectual norms, women were often expected to "think like a man" to be accepted.1
• Epistemic Homogeneity: Feminist epistemologists noted that "communities of knowers" were historically homogeneous, consisting primarily of white, Western, heterosexual men. This exclusivity reinforced the political and economic status quo, as the standards for expertise were social constructions rather than objective truths.2