I've told a couple people in the class I would post an article about female directors (and why there only about three of them) so here it is:

http://dir.salon.com/story/ent/movies/feature/2002/08/27/women_directors/index.html?pn=1

In both mainstream and independent films, female directors are a rare and diminishing species. This article interviews various female directors, asking why this is going on. It seems to be a combination of Hollywood money (old dudes don't like financing young women) and film schools attempting to mimic Hollywood's standards:

"In the hallways of San Diego State, says Professor Lauzen, "I have heard male professors say to female students, 'Don't even think about directing or being a cinematographer. Get into producing.'"