Rather than "respecting" women, isn't it more accurate to say that he is using them? He doesn't seem to mind women having power, which is better than most in this setting, but that's clearly not the main goal. He's having her take ownership of the academy so that she will receive the scrutiny for allowing women to attend. Women attending, however, will in turn become his "spears". This is all a power grab being made while keeping himself relatively safe.