In 1928, at the first Academy Awards, there were 15 categories. Men won in 14 of them, but Janet Gaynor managed to sneak away with the award for best actress.

Given that it was only eight years since women had won the right to vote, one could argue that liberal Hollywood was being progressive in its recognition that women were occasionally appearing in movies, too.

After 80 years, we have naturally advanced since the days when women won only 6 percent of Hollywood's most coveted awards. Today, they direct only 6 percent of all Hollywood films. Of the 24 "regular categories" of Oscars, women have also been eligible to win best supporting actress since 1936.