Just an observation, I really found this comment interesting:

We must be watching very different TV

Actually, you are. The report was published in 1991. TV was much different almost 18 years ago. Much of what you describe has changed during that time period. For a somewhat geeky example compare the female roles in Star Trek: The Next Generation with Babylon 5, the Stargate series, and Battlestar Galactica. Or for more mainstream viewing, how about Numb3rs, Criminal Minds, or the CSI franchise.

Television isn't the same as reality, but the roles in which women are portrayed as competent have definitely changed.

I tend to be aware of this subject because my wife has worked for more than 15 years on Expanding Your Horizons, a conference for introducing middle school girls to female role models in math and the sciences. When she started, many of the girls were completely blown away that women could do any of these jobs. Now, the girls are not surprised by the different professions at all.

Update: modify show list and minor edits.