DogOnPorch

Compatibility is a big thing in picking duration crews...and submariners. All female might work.

A short trip to Mars via Hohmann Transfer would be while in opposition, obviously...so any quicker needs a bigger boost...technology yet to be developed. For now we drift over as the math indicates. Or perhaps a boost off of Venus or even Earth is possible while out of opposition for a quicker ride if that's workable. Tricky stuff, though...more to go wrong. 

Which is why women may be the better choice.  Male egos come with advantages and disadvantages when it comes to following procedures and minimizing risk.   NASA had several astronaut meltdowns driven by too much testosterone (e.g. Apollo 7, Skylab 4 strike in 1973).  

My experience with female OODs with the ship's conn found them to be more procedural and less likely to challenge or stretch operating limits (less risk).   They were not wired to get exciting stories for the "O" club bar.

Female truck drivers and other heavy equipment operators are more cautious in general.

Indeed. One of my female cousins runs one of those giant ore trucks in the oil patch...never grinds the gears.

The Russians had their share of orbital freakouts, as well.