What do you think of female guitarists? I ask because I play guitar myself, still and always learning something new on my instrument, and have encountered the usual obstacles of some people being more interested in anything else about me than my playing, or immediately get dismissed as rubbish without hitting a string and plugging into my amp or worse making pre-judgements over what I prefer to play. So far it hasn't put me off. Is there any female guitarists you like listening to or do you have any thoughts why there seem to be so few who stick at guitar?

I'm a HUGE fan of female guitarists, and I understand it takes at least twice the amount of work to make it as a girl for the very reasons you mentioned. PLUS the fact that girls don't have the main stimulus for playing guitar in the first place; to attract chicks! Let's face it anyone who tells you otherwise is a liar or in denial.
I love the Donnas, and before them I was a huge Runaways and Shonen Knife fan. I produced Phantom Blue's debut album as well. There has yet to be a truly major legendary female guitarist. Well, maybe Bonnie Raitt, but as undeniably great as she is, she rarely is listed among male guitarists as an influence. Maybe you can be the female "Hendrix" or "Jimmy Page". Keep it up and don't let all the hard stuff about guitar get you down. We need more chicks with guitars!!