The feminism thing is interesting and important, but I can't think of anything interesting to say. Other than to add that my Prime Minister, who is a red-headed female with a mildly unusual accent, has for that reason alone suffered severe criticism. Notably from several female 'journalists'.
I will note that men get a similar, though not equivalent, set of standards applied to them by the media. "Would you like a beer with them" (your answer should be "who's paying", but I digress). It doesn't matter who looks better or who is a nicer person. It doesn't matter that your head of state is an asshole in private, like Kevin Rudd. The only thing that matters is policy. Any journalist who ever criticises a politician for anything other than policy does not deserve the name.
In the present media climate, it's probably bad practice to even mention anything other than policy.