I tried reading this book and couldn't get through it for the reason you've mentioned; even if Dresden grows as a person and outgrows his sexism, there's not enough other stuff in the writing to keep me reading until or if he gets to that point. I couldn't figure out why it's so popular.

*curious* Have you read any of Dennis Lehane's work? He's a mystery writer, not SF/F; I'm not entirely sure why my brain has connected this post to him, other than the crime solving aspect, and having, in his Patrick Kenzie/Angela Gennaro series, a male main character without reducing the female half in any way.

Or Dana Stabenow? Who writes one of my favourite characters of all time, Kate Shugak, an Aleut PI who lives in Alaska and greatly competent at her job. Her personal life, not so much, but she keeps trying anyway.