Bringing the feminine into the Tabernacle

I was finishing up the book of Exodus this morning and struggling through that whole litany of items made for the Tabernacle. Each item is described in detail 3 times -- how the Lord described it to Moses, how the men made it, and then what it was like when finished and presented to Moses and then God. I found something interesting right in the middle, though -- something I'd not noticed before even though I've read it several times before. That is the Basin for Washing. The instructions from God (Exodus 38:8) call for it to be made from the "mirrors of the women who served at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting." Now this puzzles me. Are the mirrors to reflect the feminine presence into the tent? Or are they to reflect the women's images back outside, so that there is no feminine presence? It's a mystery. It's the only article made from something else - everything else is made custom and new. But this washing basin is specifically made from something belonging to women who serve God. It's the only mention of women serving in or near the Tent. What did those women do? Cook? Clean? Butcher? Sew? Read? Speak?
God brought the women into his Tabernacle in a symbolic way related to cleansing and light. I just don't understand more than that, and maybe I'm not meant to!
Comments? Thoughts? What does this passage say to you?