Speaking as a man, I would prefer that we use the term woman. As in, "Speaking as a Woman". The term female is without species. Female giraffe? Female water buffalo? Female human!
It was using "female" as the adjective. If it was being used as a noun, it would have to be "Driving while a female".
We all have the right to self-define, and then brutally ostracize people who reject our self-definitions.
Since the issue being discussed was gender, not species, that's appropriate.