Considering I'm one of the few people to consistently defend her, that shouldn't be too much of a surprise.

What I thought was interesting about WoT was the way it addressed or worked around the real problem of female soldiers, which is their interactions with male soldiers. Which is also one of the more practical arguments against homosexual soldiers, as well. RJ sort of acknowledges that stuff by one of those first female soldiers being reprimanded for flirting with a male guard while on duty. The Aiel Maidens of the Spear are pretty much excised from issues of command (and note that male battle leaders cannot assign duties or objectives to individual Maidens, removing sexual and romantic issues from the chain of command), and the Aiel are acculturated against seeing Maidens differently than male warriors. The one time they let a wetlander into the army, it screwed things up royally with fraternization problems, and led to the Shaido schism. For the most part, the more militaristic the WoT culture, the more chauvinistic in its protection and exemption of women from military activity. Even the Aiel treat civilian women very differently and for all intents and purposes, completely marginalize military women, all but rendering them into men.

The omniscient agent that starts all WoT prologues once described the Tar Valonese attitude towards the Tower. Something to be proud of but not too closely acquainted with, kind of (I think the metaphor was 'fireplace'. Might explain why girls may not be all that willing to be tested for novices.

Yeah, but it still doesn't explain the sparkers, or lack thereof.