Looking back at that, I think Roddenberry was lampshading the expected social discomfort expected in the audience when those words were put in Pike’s mouth. Regrettably, the rest audience reportedly still wasn’t willing to accept Number One.
It’s odd though given the prominent women characters in Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea which was very popular a few years before.
Anyone else have Ukrainian farmers come to mind?
Not that I’m suggesting mixing in a political war meme here, but that’s what popped up first for me.