I found Bangkok very easy, safe, and navigable as a solo female backpacker. It's definitely on the lower scale of solo males / females having very different experiences as it's a popular destination and backpackers are common!
The main warning is to always guard your drink, and watch it being poured. There are so many cases of drink spiking with all sorts of things so you need to be vigilant but it won't change your behaviour much. As always, handbags are an easy target so a secret money belt for your passport and a bag you can always keep a hand on are your best bets.
It can be intimidating walking Bangkok alone at any time, as there will be endless shouts of "lady where you going?!" from Tuk Tuk drivers along the way. Whilst I personally didn't use tuktuks often as they are more expensive and less reliable than taxis, the drivers were always friendly and helpful when I pointed at my map and asked how I could walk there. They'll always try to get you to take the ride, but just stick to your legs if that's how you want to go and be assertive with a smile!
Taxis are better than Tuk Tuks, as they're air conditioned, cheaper on the meter, and safer - bags can easily get snatched on a Tuk Tuk! Having said that, always make sure to sit in the back rather than the front, ask your driver to help you if you have bags in the boot and make sure they get out before you do, and only pay when you have all your belongings with you. I saw one case whereby a taxi drove off with a backpacker's bag still in the boot, and heard of many more where solo women especially have been taken in Tuk Tuks to where the driver wants to take them rather than where you've asked to go. Again, assertive words with smiles are best.
In temples in Bangkok women are expected to have knees and elbows covered to enter, although t-shirts seem to be ok, but definitely no shoulders on show. Temples will have cover up sarongs on loan if you haven't prepared for it, but dressing respectfully gets you a much better reception than walking around in the green smock of shame at the Grand Palace!
Women are not allowed to get in the way of a monk and certainly not allowed to touch a monk. I didn't know that, and I saw a few women fall foul of it and it was very clear that it was very offensive to the monk and locals surrounding! Men are fine to walk wherever but still can't touch a monk.
If you're a fan of henna then you're in luck in Bangkok, as there are some seriously skilled artists in Khaosan area! Make sure you are getting brown henna though, as black henna can scar and permanently damage your skin. One to avoid if you're not quite sure about it!
Avoiding the White Person Tax at markets is tricky, and there are two ways of going about it. One is the incredibly assertive but ultimately charming technique which I'd say works every time around 50% of the time, but when it does it's very good value. The other is to buddy up with non-Casper friends at the hostel and go shopping all together. It sounds bad, I'm fully aware, but it's just a reflex reaction: White money gets White prices. Whatever you do, don't forget to barter!
I'd say I had an advantage when making friends with kids as they were pretty intrigued by my hair and wanted to play with it. Making friends with the kids meant getting on with the parents more easily, which led to much better interaction!
Overall Bangkok is very safe and comfortable to explore as a solo female backpacker, so long as you stay vigilant and just be sensible as you would be in any foreign city.
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