We're out there but it's a different world for us.
Now I won't pretend to speak for other women in woodworking so I'll speak from my experience only.
I was the first girl in my entire county to take wood shop in high school in 75/76. It took a meeting of the school board and a letter from my parents to get me in and of course there was talk. I passed with flying colors and the teacher wasn't easy on me since he wasn't crazy about having me in his class. He tried to assign my jobs in the shop as sweeping up and putting away and keeping me away from the tools because he was sure I was going to cut off my arm. I finally had a meeting with him and explained that I knew my way around a table saw - learned from my father and grandfather - that I could identify any species he'd care to whip out and for Christmas the previous year I got a set of turning tools. After that, we understood each other.
Over the years I tried to find other things that held my interest-cooking, crochet, needlework and the like (my x-husband wasn't crazy about a wife with a wood shop, one of the reasons he's now an X)
but I kept going back to wood. With a granddad and father who both had shops, I couldn't help it.
The x-husband finally gave up and started ignoring it and I got into it full time, starting with antique furniture (what my dad did and what I knew best). It wasn't easy dealing with lumber yards and hardware stores. Answering the same question - "What are you going to do with it?" became tedious and hearing the same "Honey, have your husband come down and we'll get him what he wants" irritated me beyond words. I also dealt with stereotyping - a woman with short hair, a strong back and into woodworking had to be gay. Just no way around it. Otherwise she'd be in the kitchen and raising kids.
Please.
When I got into carving and inlay, attitudes changed a bit. People appreciated the 'art' but they still didn't believe the building and repairing parts. I learned to let it go. I didn't care if they knew I built all the bookcases in the house or the entertainment center or the headboard. Or if I rebuilt and refinished the old oak armoire and the kitchen table. It didn't matter because my customers were happy, I was making money and I knew my skills.
That was years ago. Too many to think about.
I've been working on furniture now for 33 years. After our house burned in '09 my partner and I rebuilt a log home and most of the furniture in it. I put up all the tongue and groove vaulted ceiling because he couldn't deal with the scaffolding. We share tools equally though he claims the table saw as his, I claim the lathe as mine.
I was fortunate to find him. He appreciated my determination and my knowledge and I think he was a bit envious of my router bit collection. lol The fact that I'm not into makeup and fashion and designer nails was a plus for him - that's money that can go towards another load of cherry and walnut - as long as I cleaned up pretty well so we could go out in public. He's never had to explain a design, never had to convince me on a tool purchase and knows I won't fuss if the yard isn't mowed when we're in the midst of a build.
I think one of the things about women woodworkers is that we're not taught the same things as children that boys are taught. I was lucky to have a dad that did take the time. Mom still taught me to cook and clean and do laundry but I had the added benefit of also being allowed in the shop. Both of my grandfathers were also good about letting me 'help' with repairs and building jobs which was where I learned framing and electrical.
Some women also have problems with physical strength. Let's face it - a sheet of plywood isn't the easiest thing to move around without help. Then there's the sweating, the dust, the noise, the occasional mashed thumb and too-tight collets. Not things little girls are taught to appreciate or understand.
But I believe the main thing is desire and an early introduction to the woodworking world. Maybe there isn't an interest and that's OK. But I think if more girls were at least exposed to it we'd see more women woodworkers around.