As well as FIDE norms, you need a certain Elo to obtain a certain title. Women need around 200 points lower Elo to obtain the analogous women's only title:
- Grandmaster (GM) 2500+
- International master (IM) 2400+
- FIDE master (FM) 2300+
- Candidate master (CM) 2200+
- Woman grandmaster (WGM) 2300+
- Woman international master (WIM) 2200+
- Woman FIDE master (WFM) 2100+
- Woman candidate master (WCM) 2000+
I have read many times the reason why women don't reach the super GM level is social and not cognitive. For example in this interview to WFM Rodrigo she is asked:
XL. Why are there still no women in the elite?
M.R. For various reasons, but basically for two. For a statistical question (we are less players) and for a cultural factor. Evolutionarily, women are more used to collaborating and men to compete. It is an imprint that comes to us from the hunter-gatherer tribes. In addition, the male brain processes visual information faster, which favors the recognition of patterns on the board, while women have more developed memory. But in ten years we will see girls fighting for the world title.
So why is FIDE giving titles to women with less chess knowledge than players who have the equivalent open title? I know there are fewer women players than men, but women can play in men's tournaments.