The statistics from 1999 can illustrate the persistence of gender disparities in journalism, suggesting that while progress may have been made, significant issues still remain. If the statistics show a lack of representation of women in journalism positions or highlight systemic barriers they faced, they could reinforce the author's claim that a gender problem still exists today. In this case, the statistics could support the idea that the challenges women faced back in 1999 have not been fully resolved, and may even indicate that the problem has continued or evolved over time.
In summary, the correct response would likely be: "The statistics show that the problem was even greater in the past," as this would help to contextualize ongoing gender issues in the journalism industry today.