Woman's Hour

Jacinda Ardern, Women leaving teaching, Abuse in sport

Dec 4, 2025
Jacinda Ardern, the former Prime Minister of New Zealand, discusses her journey of empathetic leadership and the challenges of leading while pregnant. She reflects on her tenure, including the Christchurch tragedy and the impact of online abuse on political figures. Emma Shepherd reveals alarming statistics about teachers leaving the profession after becoming parents, emphasizing the need for better parental policies and support. The conversation touches on mental health services, AI tools for athletes facing online abuse, and the importance of nurturing empathy in leadership.
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INSIGHT

Workload Creates A 'Leaky Bucket'

  • Teaching leaks mid-career mainly because workload plus majority caring duties create an unsustainable double shift.
  • Mothers who stay through the four-year window become one of the most reliable retention groups.
ADVICE

Make Leave And Flexibility Gender Inclusive

  • Expand flexible working (job-sharing, varied start/finish times) and include fathers in parental leave policy.
  • Incentivise paternal leave to rebalance home care and improve retention of mothers in teaching.
INSIGHT

Maternity Pay And Policy Push Women Out

  • Current statutory maternity pay in teaching is short and compares poorly with other graduate professions and some public employers.
  • Poor pay and limited flexibility likely deter teachers from having more children or staying in the job.
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