How it should be is "female" is an adjective and "woman" is a noun (outside science).

"Female programmer" sounds theoretically possible, where "woman programmer" sounds wrong.

"Busty woman" sounds attractive, where "busty female" sounds weirdo.

The reason is because in English "adjective noun" and "noun of adjective" are mostly synonymous, like Department of War and War Department; "women programmers" are "programmers of women".

How it should be is "female" is an adjective and "woman" is a noun (outside science).

"Female programmer" sounds theoretically possible, where "woman programmer" sounds wrong.

"Busty woman" sounds attractive, where "busty female" sounds weirdo.

The reason is because in English "adjective noun" and "noun of adjective" are mostly synonymous, like Department of War and War Department; a "woman programmer" is a "programmer of women".