Hah, ask Lem
We've already discussed it; but I don't remember any constructive conclussions.
I personally think that this may be caused by the fact that the majority of Lem's characters are proffesional scientists (take
Eden) or pilots and navigators, adventurers (
Pirx,
Star Diaries) and this sort of lifestyle is still associated with being a male
Or at least it was at the time Lem wrote all this.
On the other hand, one must admit, that it may be hard for a male writer to give a good description of a female character; but I don't think this is Lem's problem. I'd rather suspect that, simply, he wasn't interested in complicating the human-human relations in his novels. And this complication always appears when women are introduced - take this as a compliment - males are just so simple-minded
. Maybe this simplicity (in between humans) was more suitable for Lem.