The AP covers the trials and tribulations of the female Civil War reenactor in an interesting article:
A century and a half ago, women weren’t allowed into military service; masquerading as men was the only way in for those who weren’t satisfied with supporting the war effort from home or following their husbands’ military units around. As the country marks the 150th anniversary of the War Between the States, some female re-enactors still cling to secrecy — not just for historical accuracy but because uniformed women aren’t always welcome in the male-dominated hobby.
My personal opinion is that a few women in disguise aren’t a big deal when we’ve got hordes of hefty, middle-aged privates in the ranks.
In any case, a recent incident at Gettysburg suggests that living historians should stop worrying about gender roles and start worrying about divine wrath.
In other Civil War news, iPhone users will now be able to enjoy a handheld, GPS-enabled guided tour of the Manassas battlefield, complete with audio and video.
Past in the Present 
Women in reenacting doesn’t bother me in the least, even in positions that “should be” men. I attended a Texas Revolution reenactment last year that had several women participating as Mexican cavalry; they did a fine job. Turns out they were part of a reenacting family, all riders, and were having a ball. Reenacting requires considerable suspension of disbelief, anyway; why get all torqued about it? More power to them.