Gender Equality, Stereotypes, and Creating Inclusive Cultures

Christine Boston unpacks the persistent barriers facing women, exploring the intersection of gender equity, societal constructs, and inclusive leadership while championing transformative action and authentic culture change in both work and society

In this episode of The Inclusion Bites Podcast, Joanne Lockwood is joined by Christine Boston as they examine what it truly means to break barriers for women in modern society and the workplace. The discussion maps the enduring structural and cultural obstacles women continue to encounter, from the persistent motherhood penalty to the prevalence of gender stereotypes in education, recruitment, and family life. Joanne and Christine debate the efficacy of diversity initiatives, question the myth of meritocracy, and explore how both language and communication style influence women’s advancement in leadership. Covering topics such as the impact of social media personalities like Andrew Tate, the challenges of toxic masculinity, and the subtleties of “pulling the ladder up”, this episode probes why equity must start from childhood and how workplaces must move beyond surface-level diversity to effect genuine culture change.

Christine is a lifelong gender equality advocate and leadership specialist based in Wales, renowned for transforming strategic vision into purpose-led action. Her professional journey includes prominent roles with the Welsh charity Chwarae Teg, the founding trusteeship of Women’s Equality Network Wales, and international experience with the Federation of Women Lawyers in Lesotho. Having grown up questioning traditional gender roles from a young age, Christine brings first-hand insight into forming inclusive cultures and balancing feminist principles with lived experience. Her approach champions the progress of women through structural change, awareness-raising, and the fostering of authentic leadership at all levels.

Joanne and Christine engage with real-life examples, challenge patriarchal norms, and offer candid perspectives on what it will take for women to truly thrive—rather than simply survive—in business and society. They illustrate how communication gaps and gendered expectations persist, while also sharing practical illustrations from home, school, and work.

The key takeaway from this episode is that advancing gender equity requires more than tokenistic representation—it demands unpicking deep-seated assumptions, reconfiguring workplace merit and culture, and investing in a generational shift through early education. Listeners will come away energised by the practical insights and inspired to push for systemic changes ensuring every woman—and every person—has the opportunity not just to belong, but to lead and flourish.

 

Published: 09.10.2025

Recorded: 04.04.2025

Duration: 1:00:51

 

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  AI Extracts and Interpretations
  


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  The Inclusion Bites Podcast > #178 Breaking Barriers for Women
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  Other Links
  


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  SEE Change Happen: The Inclusive Culture Experts
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  Inclusion Bites Podcast on YouTube
  

Clips and Timestamps

Viral Topic: Early Encounters with Gender Inequality: “as a girl, I realised there were things that I would be told I couldn’t do, you know, just for that reason, no other good reason, just because I’m a girl.”

— Christine Boston [00:03:37 → 00:03:45 ]

Viral Topic: Challenging Gender Stereotypes in Childhood: “he’s having to sort of make his own mind up about gender ideals, you know, whether pink is an okay colour for him and that sort of thing, whether he can, you know, have his nails painted if he wants to and play with the girls and all these. All these things that, you know, shouldn’t really matter.”

— Christine Boston [00:09:30 → 00:09:45 ]

Viral Topic: The Gender Communication Gap: “learning each other’s way of talking is a leap across the communication gap between men and women and a giant step towards genuine understanding.”

— Christine Boston [00:17:42 → 00:17:50 ]

Challenging Gender Stereotypes in Schools: “But I think, you know, that’s all well and good, me having a one on one conversation with my son at home, but, you know, what is the school doing to make sure the boys feel that they are welcome in that class and to challenge, you know, challenge the stereotype in the classroom and make sure that, you know, any boys that do decide to go are not going to be, you know, teased and bullied for making that decision.”

— Christine Boston [00:29:12 → 00:29:34 ]

Breaking Gender Stereotypes in School Sports: “I noticed in the playground it appears that it is the boys that get the football area and the girls can play if they want to, but the boys dominate and the girls never have the opportunity to kind of take that as their space.”

— Christine Boston [00:30:16 → 00:30:30 ]

Viral Topic: Rethinking Merit and Recruitment

“We need to look for culture add, not culture fit.”

— Christine Boston [00:41:38 → 00:41:41 ]

Viral Topic: The Hidden Struggles of Women in the Workplace: “But actually, psychologically it’s very impactful.”

— Christine Boston [00:42:37 → 00:42:40 ]

Viral Topic: Navigating Workplace Judgement as a Woman

“If that happens, it’s not the right workplace for you.”

— Christine Boston [00:44:34 → 00:44:37 ]

The Motherhood Penalty at Work: “I must have been asked about 20 times, are you coming back part time? Because that’s just an assumption that gets made, you know, despite the fact if I did that, I’d be losing my salary, I’d be losing my pension, I’d probably be having to do the same job.”

— Christine Boston [00:46:17 → 00:46:31 ]

Viral Topic: Testosterone Treatment Gap for Women: “There isn’t like a product on the market for females, so women who are being given testosterone, and that includes myself, are having to use products that are for men and just sort of do their best, make the best of it.”

— Christine Boston [00:51:11 → 00:51:24 ]

Definition of Terms Used

What is the Motherhood Penalty?

• Definition: The motherhood penalty refers to the systematic disadvantages and reductions in pay, promotion opportunities, and career progression that women experience as a direct consequence of becoming mothers or being perceived as likely to become mothers.


• Relevance: This phenomenon underpins much of the conversation around gender inequality in the workplace, with women often facing negative assumptions about their commitment, availability, or capability after having children.


• Examples: Women returning from maternity leave being overlooked for promotions, offered only part-time roles, or having their career progression stalled; interviewers questioning female candidates about plans for children, impacting hiring decisions.


• Related Terms: Gender Pay Gap, Parental Leave, Flexible Working, Gender Discrimination


• Common Misconceptions: Many believe the motherhood penalty is self-imposed by women choosing to reduce hours, but research shows that negative employer bias and lack of supportive policies are core contributors to this penalty.

What is Meritocracy (in Recruitment)?

• Definition: Meritocracy in recruitment is the belief or system where hiring and promotion decisions are based solely on an individual’s ability, skills, and achievements, rather than on factors like gender, ethnicity, or personal connections.


• Relevance: The concept is heavily critiqued in the episode as existing recruitment processes are often influenced by unconscious bias, networking advantages, and subjective definitions of “merit”, which tend to reinforce the status quo and disadvantage underrepresented groups.


• Examples: Hiring through the “old boys’ network” while claiming appointments are made on merit; using “name-blind” applications to reduce bias, but still favouring people who fit the existing company culture.


• Related Terms: Positive Discrimination, Un