I think the emphasis on the dehumanisation of women was deliberate, to remind us how dreadful it was, blah blah. You sould try another production, like the famous ENO 'Mafia' one I'm always going on about, where the characters are more well rounded. That said, Gilda is a bit of a bore. Verdi's women are often pretty complex, though. I get the impression that he liked and admired the sex.