) Abramowitz (2010) describes this phenomenon:

But she is considered by many in the business to be more of an outlier, an exception to the rule as a woman who's made her name largely directing men in action films such as "Point Break" and "Strange Days."

Most female directors have risen to power by directing (and often writing) films that appeal to women, whether or not that's their natural inclination.

In other words -- to be somewhat reductionist, but not necessarily therefore inaccurate -- Bigelow was recognized as a women director because she acted like a man and created a film that validated male experiences.

American culture is both sexist and androcentric. The male perspective is considered -- by both women and men -- to be normal, correct, proper. It does not seem in any way peculiar to us that women should want to see a movie about war, because we have been conditioned all of our lives to consider war to be a "worthy" topic to be celebrated. As a counterpoint...

That would be a "women's movie." Until the audiences exist in equal measure for the full range of humanity's stories, it will remain difficult indeed for the full range of directors/storytellers to get their work seen
References

Abramowitz, Rachel.

http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/la-et-women-directors7-2010mar07,0,4748720.story

In Hollywood, female film directors are still the exception, Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 22 March 2010 fromhttp://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/la-et-women-directors7-2010mar07,0,4748720.story

Hanson, Sarah. Businesswomen prove reluctant angels, Director.Retrieved 21 March 2010 from http://www.director.co.uk/MAGAZINE/2007/12%20Dec/bp_finance_61_5.html

National Committee on Pay Equity. "Women of Color in the Workplace," "The Wage Gap Over Time," and "The Wage Gap by Education." Fact Sheets. http://www.pay-equity.org/info.html.

Roth, Louise Marie. [2006]. 2009. "Selling Women Short." pp. 276-290 in Social Problems: Readings with Four Questions.