What purpose would it serve to make some kind of hidden misogynist statement in a comic book series?

The same purpose, I'd assume, for DC execs (and Marvel for that matter) to refrain from practicing really any diversity in superheroes for the past 50 years. They've all for the most part been white strong muscular men, with no exceptions. They build superheroes in their own world image. The white men are the primacy of the DC Universe. I suggest you give this article a glance as it even suggests DC has questionable attitudes against women.

As regular readers of this site will be aware, Moore’s comic has become notorious for a storyline in which Batgirl, aka Barbara Gordon, is crippled and most likely raped by the Joker as part of his efforts to destroy the mind of her father, the regular Batman ally Commissioner James Gordon.

Again, refusing to call a female heroine woman, because they want us to think she's a naive little daddy's girl.

Here, again, is another editorial about DC sexism. I'm just saying... Don't bash the idea or be too skeptical without even giving it some thought.