Odd that Visiting Warwick leaflet has a picture of a meeting of some
sort with a room comprising men only, given the subordinate role given
to women, one might think they would be more liberal over shunning close
ones, but not so.
Lostandfound, I think that this piece of your post is key to what I believe happens with women in general. They are conditioned to be submissive, to have no voice, to be obedient, to never make decisions, to make suggestions only at best. They develop a strong dependence on their men in their households, and in the guidance of men in their congregation.
Any fool, with the lowest IQ, any jackass with the stupidest decision making process (or none at all), has more saying in a given situation than any woman with any set of leadership skills, simply for being a woman. Think about the mental toll that it has to take for them to be conditioned to living under those circumstances, and for years, day after day, made believe that their only place and the only purpose of existing is to be in that position in relationship with men, in this life and in the new order forever and ever.
Of course, when something finally comes across that challenges that mentality and those believes that have made them miss so much, place them in a secondary role in life, and discourage them from independence and having the lives that they deep down know well they can have, they will react strongly, hence the strong push back.