Don

Jesus had many female disciples, Mary and Martha are examples.

The 12 mapped to the 12 Patriarchs, so there needed to be 12 and they needed to be men. When James died it is not recorded that he was replaced and I think the 12 were unique.

Junia was an apostle. It is only by denying the claims of some ECF AND denying the primary meaning of the Greek that non-egals claim the verse does not teach what it does. This verse by itself destroys the non-egal church leaders claim, so they have to find a way to deny it or repent.