Most bosses that retaliate do not view it as retaliation. I know that when I have acted immorally in my own past, I felt justified about it.

It is not true that he stated women are less suited to the job. It is possible that he was implying it. Firing him for something he did not say, but may have implied, is weak. Destroying a person's livelihood for an imagined offense WHILE the company releases a statement that they encourage widespread opinions is even weaker.