Final answer:
Lois Weber was the highest-paid director during the silent film era and directed films like Shoes in 1916, highlighting the plight of underpaid young women. She and other filmmakers like Alice Guy were pivotal in shaping the early film industry and expressing societal issues through their work.
Step-by-step explanation:
The woman who was at one point the highest-paid director during the silent era of film was Lois Weber. Weber was a pioneer in the film industry and directed the silent film Shoes in 1916, which highlighted the difficult lives of underpaid young working women. During her career, Weber challenged the norms of her time not only by directing but also by tackling serious social issues through her films.
Lois Weber's status as a top-paid director is noteworthy, especially considering the societal norms of the time, which often saw women earning significantly less than men and, if unmarried, unable to live independently. Despite these challenges, Weber’s directorial success and the themes of her films reflect the progressive spirit of what became known as the New Woman of the 1920s.
Aside from Weber's contributions, the silent film era saw other significant contributions by women, such as Alice Guy, the world's first female filmmaker. These women were instrumental in the development of the film industry and used the medium to express and critique societal issues, showcasing the capability and impact of women in a field that was predominantly male-dominated.