It's more scary to think that people think that any of the "qualities" mentioned would make a person an inferior or unhireable candidate for any of these roles. Aside from, of course, simple issues of body build for which a similarly-sized male would also be unsuitable.

That's a different question. So far I think people are trying to prove that there are actually no difference. If we found out there is a difference and acknowledged it, then depending on a kind of position it could be completely irrelevant or highly relevant. For example, hiring a socially awkward person as a computer programmer is nothing uncommon, but hiring one as a salesman or customer service representative may be unwise. Other qualities may have similar effects.