Joseph,
1. We make the bracha of shelo asani isha because men should be thankful for the opportunity to gain greater heights than women through the increased mitzvos and Torah obligations we have.
2. The Gemara in Berachos 17a fits beautifully with what I am saying. The Gemara says that the havtacha for women to gain Olam Hamba is greater than for men. Why? The mother brings her children to cheder and gets schar, she sends her husband to learn and she gets schar. But the men only get the schar if they actually learn and they lose schar when they battel. It is easier for the ordinary woman to bring her sons/husband to learn Torah than it is for the ordinary son/husban to learn properly.