I’m not a native English speaker, so forgive my ignorance, but isn’t “women” a noun, not an adjective? Why not just say “female artists” or “female writers”?
As a side note, I’ve also literally never seen anyone say “men artists” or “men writers”. What gives?


In Swedish too, but curiously we use them chaotically, somewhat based in traditional gendered jobs but not always. A lot of jobs exist in both feminine and masculine forms but are mostly used in one or another unless making a point. Others exist in only one masculine sounding form but they are really used as neutrum.
For example: Skådespelare/skådespelerska (actor/actress) are used as expected. Konstnär/konstnärinna (male/female artist) is very rarely used in feminine regardless of gender of the artist. Läkare (doctor) exists only in one form so if you want to say “female doctor” you have to say “kvinnlig läkare”. Meanwhile skötare/sköterska (male/female nurse) is more complicated because all nurses in hospitals are i feminin form, but in mental health they are in masculine form, and elsewhere I don’t even know.