Here's the deal... maybe the older guys can relate. When the chicks first arrived in the AF ca. 1990/91 (the squids a bit earlier), we had a few CTJ (come to Jesus) meetings in preparation at Holloman for fighter lead-in training. In front of a roomful of male fighter IP's, the commanders announced in no uncertain terms that "the women are coming, and the word from on-high is this: THEY WILL PASS THE COURSE." Translation: Standards will be different for them. What would wash out a male is now acceptable for a female.
That was not a good way to ram this concept down our throats. I left the AF before they showed up, but it left a bitter taste. I have no idea what's going on these days. It may be totally level playing field. Probably is. But the entire concept of different standards for men vs. women has been around ever since women have joined the military, especially PT standards for ground troops.
Someone will try to make a race analogy here... go for it. But logic says that while races are truly equivalent in innate capabilities, the sexes are not, both in terms of simple physical strength, and in cognitive issues.