Going back to women in British Rock 'n' Roll.
The first woman to have a number 1 single in Britain with a Rock song was American born naturalised Briton Suzi Quatro with "Can the Can". That was as late as June 1973.
The first Woman to have a number 1 single with a Rock song she wrote herself was Kate Bush with "Wuthering Heights" as late as January 1978.
I suppose slow progress is better than no progress but all the same it is a little embarrasing.
(Kate was also the first female vocalist to top the U.K. singles & album charts simultaneously.)