“female type careers” is a fairly sexist thing to think/say.
I used to be a QA supervisor, not so much with the meritocratic world you’re describing, at all, including my hiring and promotion.
“why aren’t there more women programmers” is a fairly consistent topic these days, and generally the answer is “institutionalized sexism/misogyny” usually accompanied with a comment like “ladies just don’t like/aren’t good at it I guess” and thats usually from well meaning dudes. Like this dude.
http://scripting.com/2013/08/19/whyArentThereMoreWomenProgrammers
That all said, I think we actually agree? 
