Do folks in general expect women to know about the significance or history of the tartans they wear?
The women members of our St. Andrew's Society certainly do -- our President is a MacLeod of Harris, and she can recite "chapter & verse" of MacLeod history whenever anyone asks her what her tartan is! (interestingly, she was born in Recife, Brazil, and has dual US/Brazilian citizenship -- her parents are missionaries)

My wife also tells anyone who asks her about the Nova Scotia tartan and how it represents the Acadians as well as the Scots.

Given my experience with genealogy and genealogical socities in particular, women tend to be more aware of family heritage and are very knowledgeable about such things.

Cheers,

T.