I used to be an engineering tech for a major ford transmission remanufacturing facility. It was common knowledge among the admin and engineering groups that women made better employees because;
1. they felt like they had to proove themselves
2. they paid more attention to what they were doing (because of #1)
3. they tended to check their work so they wouldn't make mistakes (which they felt would be used against them)
also: in world war II, WOMEN built all our planes, tanks, and guns, that made it possible to win the war, because our equipment was more dependable than the (badguys)
Don't be afraid to learn what you can because of your gender. I know a bad ass chick that can build a bad ass chopper better than most guys. And, a very nice lady that can rebuild the most complicated automatic transmissions with the very best of them.
Learn and do what you can. Ignore the idiots.