We aim to explore whether board gender diversity, specifically women institutional directors,
improves the sustainability development and stakeholder engagement of listed firms by
affecting corporate social responsibility (CSR) policies. Moreover, within female institutional
directors we can differentiate between banks and insurance companies (pressure-sensitive
female institutional directors) and mutual funds, investment funds, pension funds and venture
capital firms (pressure-resistant female institutional directors). Thus, the effect of these
categories of directors on CSR policies is also analysed. Our findings suggest that female
institutional, as a whole, have a positive effect on CSR policies, the same behaviour that show
pressure-resistant female institutional, while pressure-sensitive institutional do not impact on
CSR policies. This research provides a new framework for the role played by certain types of
female directors (female institutional directors, female pressure-sensitive directors and female
pressure-resistant directors) in CSR policies and, thus, may help policymakers to promote
CSR policies, and to take action to promote responsible behaviour among listed firms
