Every second I am in the capoeira class, I am conscious that I am a woman. This is primarily because capoeira was developed by men and therefore for men's bodies. For women physically that makes it difficult and more challenging. Here in the United States, more women are doing this and are encouraged by their teachers. The primary problem women have is the physical demand on their bodies.
Many women have the advantage of being naturally graceful, flexible and fluid.
Back flexibility is especially helpful in capoeira, and as a generalization, I would say that men have to work harder on that. For women, the primary thing we work on is strength, especially in the upper body. Capoeira encompasses many energies. Women have a natural tendency to embrace the dance side, the gymnastics and the fluidity. Girls do a lot of back bends, and guys normally jump onto their hands from a mile away and do back flips.