Explanation
Its a Man's film made for women because of the following
The initial subject matter is about a boxer. Boxing is traditionally a man's sport and is very brutal.
Russel Crowe is considered by most to be very Masculine. You don't see him taking crap from anyone.
A great deal of the film is about his struggle to win the heaveyweight chapionship. This sense of extreme competition is also considered to be very masculine.
All of these masculine themes are tempered by the Femimine ones.
The great love James Braddock has for his wife and family.
This love goes so far that he will demean himself to begging (not very manly), take crap from the Max Baer Sr., and generally make his wife's interest become his primary focus.
Now of course he does these things on his own terms and is successful. But it is these themes which really drive the film. Naturally, they would also be of most interest to women because it reinforces the values that they hold in general. That of being mother, wife, lover, the emotional half of a couple.
The film is slightly AFC but really it is in spirit of trying to show sometimes you have to be for the greater good.
I hope this makes a little more sense.