Intellectual fashion and “not mutually exclusive”

Intellectual fashion

A scholarly field may concentrate on certain questions because they are currently regarded as especially important.

For example:

During one period, historians may emphasize class.

Later:

gender becomes especially prominent.

Later:

race, empire, environment, or global history may become dominant.

A researcher working outside the current emphasis may receive less attention.

“Not mutually exclusive”

It means:

Both or several explanations can be true at the same time.

For example, a neglected historian could be overlooked because of:

• language barriers and
• institutional prestige and
• intellectual fashion.

You don't have to choose only one.