" I am betting there is no significant difference in inherent potential talent "

I don't think it's talent, more so motivation, interest, cultural dissonance, choice - and of course all the 'bad stuff' like environments that are directly or indirectly not very conducive.

Most fields have some kind of gender asymmetry. Have a look here [1].

If one were to take some time to experience a handful of those fields, I bet the answers to why 'software' has asymmetry would be similar.

I guess I'm saying the issue may have specific roots in tech, but probably more or less rooted in more broad, cultural issues.

[1] https://careersmart.org.uk/occupations/equality/which-jobs-d...