"'I do bring a different perspective, but I don't think that's the reason to vote for somebody," York said. "Ideology, what someone stands for, is more important than gender."

York stressed that women are as capable as men in any field, but that they are often treated differently.

"Appearance is much more important [for women]," York said. "They talk about the color of your outfit. They talk constantly about your hairstyle."

She related an incident when one of her earrings popped off in the middle of a televised debate. As she managed to slip the other one out of her ear when the camera was off her, she said she realized that was a problem a man would have never had.

Barrett also shared a tale of the media treating her differently because of her gender. When appearing on a radio talk show once, the host referred to her as "Madonna-like," a phrase she said she could not see anyone using to describe a man.

Barrett said it is women's responsibility to point out inequity and to prove that times have changed.

"In the 50s, there was the breadwinner and the little wife, but that's not the way it is anymore," Barrett said. "Don't buy that that's your role in life. Don't let it be that women are in subordinate roles."