Applying that to journalism, I think that female correspondents should be sent anywhere that a male correspondent would be sent. It's a very stressful job because you must pay constant attention to presenting a story fairly and accurately. And quite often, you must do things very quickly. There are few better ways to induce stress. But there are ways to cope with the stress, to learn not to let it get the better of you.
Pay is a relative notion.
Few journalists ever get rich, but I don't know anyone who has gone into journalism in order to get rich. But you certainly won't go hungry, either. It depends on how much you think you need to live comfortably. I can think of few careers as fulfilling as this one. And then there's the gratification that comes from knowing that every once in a while you've really touched someone with something you've written, perhaps changed a life for the better, or just made someone smile.