In the time when Church doctrine was made, this ignorance likely included chauvinism where men either didn’t believe women were intellectual/spiritual equals or didn’t want them in a position of power.
But here I think we run into the problem I mentioned before. Christianity took on very much of the entrenched social order (pagan and Jewish) head on. So why didn't it do so with chauvinism? How is it that saintly pupils of the Apostles like Polycarp or Ignatius or Clement just let this initial chauvinism go by without correcting it? See what I'm saying? Correct me if I'm wrong, but it seems you are having trouble seeing the Church as an institution that is *protected* against error by Christ Himself.
I could be wrong, but I doubt Jesus would have a problem with a woman spreading his message in official capacity. And even then, Jesus was also human and failed on at least two occasions by his own admission. So maybe I should say that I doubt God would have a problem with a woman spreading his message in official capacity.
Well, spread the message in an official capacity, absolutely. The women were the first to see the Resurrection. And just look at Joan of Arc. And Catherine of Siena had to lecture the Pope. And Mother Angelica had to battle the bishops. But did they have to become priests to do it?
“So why didn’t it do so with chauvinism?”
Each wife her own husband, each husband her own wife. Equality of function != Equality of value.