[gcheong]

"I’m a woman if that matters at all...". It could very well be. Not necessarily because you're being immediately discounted because you are a woman (though that could be a factor), but women oftentimes do not negotiate their position up front as much as men do. I don't know if that is true in your case, but if so perhaps holding out for a higher position up front, with reasoning provided, before accepting a position might help.