Lot of things to question here, Max.  Women are not 50% of the research community.  I believe they are 38% of the PhD recipients.  Whether they all strive for academia is not clear. 

I also to not but the discrimination against young people.  Prove it.  Funding is granted based on a record of productive ideas (publications).  Until you build that record, your funding will be lower.  Cream rises.  Everybody is young once, and if you make the most of it, you succeed.