As far as I can tell, there are fewer great female writers than there are great male writers.

That said, of course, two of the books that I love beyond all reason are first novels by women.

I think it's worth being aware of and consciously seeking out writing by women in order to expand your own world view. It's like, I also seek out books by gay writers and writers who are bringing their race and/or culture to the writing table with them, because it's really in literature that we have the ability to take a look deep inside the mind of someone very different from ourselves.