[malandrew]

   There's a huge difference between, "I'm not sure I 
   understand where you are coming from." and "You are a god     
   damned idiot, what the hell are you thinking."

True, but I don't see how this is a gender issue, but an issue with how specific individuals handle competitive and potentially abrasive environments. Women are as capable of handling competitive and abrasive environments as men and I've met plenty of men that can't handle competitive or abrasive environments and end up opting out.