It's not irrelevant. Female programmers were hindered and the story focuses on those female programmers. The goal is not to be controversial but to raise awareness.
The story focuses on programmers. It uses gendered pronouns, but no more than if the article were about the sanction-beleaguered for-pay wifi down at the bazaar and the IT guy who owns the business.
It's a cause I care about so I'm willing to be link-baity to get more attention.
But I definitely agree with you.