In Jain tradition this depends on which sect you are talking about and what you mean by “Āchārya”.

1. What is an Āchārya?

Āchārya is the highest formal post in the monk–nun order (saṅgh):

• Head of the monastic order
• Final authority for discipline, rules, and guidance
• Traditionally, this post has almost always been given to monks (male renunciants)

So the issue is not whether women are respected (they are), but whether this specific title/position is given to them.

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2. Digambar tradition

• In Digambar Jainism,

- Only men become muni (nude monks). - The post of Āchārya is tied to this muni‑tradition. - Therefore, Digambar Āchārya is always male.

• Women take dīkṣā as Āryikā (Digambar nuns).

- They can be very senior and spiritually advanced, - but the formal title “Āchārya” is not given to them in the classic Digambar system.

This is based on their monastic code and view of how full renunciation must be practised, not on thinking that a woman’s soul is lower. The soul (jīva) is considered completely equal in both male and female bodies.

You can read in simple language about women and spiritual capacity in Digambar view here

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3. Śvetāmbara tradition

• In Śvetāmbara Jainism, women can become sādhvī / sadhviji / mahāsatī and reach very high spiritual levels.
• The formal title “Āchārya” is still usually given to male sadhus, because he is the overall head of the entire four‑fold saṅgh.
• But:

- Senior nuns often have titles like Pramukh Sādhvī, Mahāśramaṇī, Mahasatiji, etc. - Practically, they act as leaders for the nun’s order, teach, guide, and manage, similar to how an Āchārya does for the whole saṅgh.

So: spiritual role is very high, but the traditional word “Āchārya” is normally kept for a male monk.

You can read more here

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4. Essence in simple words

• Jain philosophy:

Soul has no gender; man and woman are spiritually equal.

• In practice:

- Digambar: Āchārya = always male; women are Āryikās. - Śvetāmbara: Āchārya almost always male; women are senior nuns with other titles, not usually called Āchārya.

So it is not that women cannot be great spiritual leaders; they are and have been. The main reason you “don’t see female Āchāryas” is that our traditional monastic system reserved this particular title for male heads of the saṅgh, while giving women other high titles and responsibilities.