DaasYochid –
I looked over the Tur / Shulchan Aruch again over Shabbos, and I honestly do not see a basis to prohibit pants for women in a society in which it is the norm.
The consensus clearly is that male clothing is defined by society. Moreover, I think that normative halacha follows the note of R’ Akiva Eiger on the final s’if that in societies where it is the norm for men to look in mirrors, that is permitted as well. As such it is clear to me that normative halacha has accepted subjective standards not just for clothing, but for the final s’if as well. Therefore in a society where it is the norm for men to dye or pluck their white hairs, pashtus is it would be mutar too.
I can understand the rationale of saying a docheik lekula – one wants to make things more bearable for the tzibur. But saying a docheik lechumra is a lot harder to rationalize, unless it is clear that there is a pirtza. With all due respect to those who disagree, I think to say pants for women constitutes such a pirtza or that is inherently pritzusdig is to not be aware of the current metzius. Therefore I am quite convinced that we should follow the pashtus and not squeeze out issurim.