Just look at the amount of women in high-level (or even mid-level) executive positions and the pay they receive compared to the men in similar spots. I can't deny the world is changing and our generation has been a huge catalyst in that and our children are far less prone to sexism or racism because of us but there remains many complete societies where repression based on gender is the norm. We can wish it wasn't still so in the western world but just like the rampant racism still in the deep south oppression of women is still around too.
You might want to remember that little tidbit when we discuss the US & Canadian invasions of foreign nations where they bomb the crap out of civilians.
Now you are talking about war with its own set of rules, war is never pleasant and probably not too productive, but sometimes there's no choice. However the human toll has improved significantly since WWI, as they focus more on bombing infrastructure rather than people.