This is a men's jacket. I own one and like it. The $50 price is a great deal, though the fabric and construction quality is a little lower than the more expensive brands. Nashbar sizing is on the loose side. I weigh 160 pounds and size medium is loose on me (but I don't want to get a smaller size else it would be too short). Softshell jackets like this are designed to be a combination of insulating layer and weather resistant layer, so you get more breathability and less bulk and a wider temperature range than lots of separate layers. I wear the jacket over a thermal base layer in temperatures near freezing. Over a wicking compression shirt in more moderate temperatures.

Agree with the previous comments that cotton is a bad idea for cold weather aerobic sports and the zipper is fine as long as it works.