[malandrew]

Why publicize that you are female if that is the case? Why not abstain from making any references that identify your gender so that people can judge you purely by the quality of the content you contribute to the conversation? Most of the best comments I see on hacker news come from people whom I know the least about, and whose profile page tells me nothing about who they are and often lack information on how to contact them as well. Anonymity gives you the opportunity to separate the message from the messenger.