Well Peter, with the short period of time I have been playing the banjo the only statement of yours I can offer an opinion on is......
4) Women can take up any instrument or kinds of music without it seeming strange or a "novelty" act

I have had only positive feedback from everyone who finds out I am playing the banjo. At the most someone maybe surprised but at the same time they think it is marvellous and they feel inspired to go off and do something artistic themselves.

I sense in the future I will most likely not run into problems with the other statements you have listed.
I think it has to do with my attitude. I am seldom confronted with existing pressures that some women feel such as exclusions, or assumptions about what they can and can not do?
I tend to not see there is an issue and therefore I am not confronted with one.

Bonnie