How the Hobby Gap Limits Women Career Networking

Women at Work: Career, Leadership & Modern Work · Jul 17, 2026 · 5m

In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the 'hobby gap' — the subtle but powerful way that leisure activities shape professional networks and career opportunities. Drawing on a 2022 study from the Journal of Vocational Behavior, they discuss how men's hobbies (golf, fantasy sports, poker) more often overlap with business networking, while women's hobbies (reading, crafting, yoga) are perceived as less career-relevant. They examine the case of a female engineer who switched from knitting to a local running club and saw a measurable shift in her professional connections. The hosts also discuss…