I don't understand the uproar. Women pilots have been around the airlines here for 30+ years, and most major airlines have significant percentages of them actively flying today, numbering in the thousands. Many are (and have been for years) Captains. No big deal at all, unless individuals (male or female) go out of their way to make a big deal of it.
Male pilots talk about enjoying (or not enjoying) flying with certain female pilots as much as they do certain male pilots. And vice/versa. There are always individuals who are not enjoyable to fly with, and some who are less or more competent than others. But these characteristics don't seem to be determined by gender in the bigger picture.
And as to the "added cost" of employing women as pilots? Actually, anecdotal evidence hints toward women, as a group, costing less when looking at medical/injury/health care costs over the long term of a career.