Gail Richards - 1940's Female Empowerment?

I like how Gail Richards is portrayed in this serial. She is tough a nails, truly Cap's right hand "man", and even gets to shoot a bad guy dead! Without blinking an eye! Sure she plays maiden in distress in a few scenes but over all she can take care of herself and Cap knows she is capable and puts her in situations usually reserved for male characters.

This was made at the height of WWII when many American women were working men's jobs in munitions factories and building airplanes. Wonder if that had anything to do with the portrayal of Gail as a no nonsense capable agent?