

This, at least, is not entirely true. OD&D does not have any distinction at all between male and female characters in the original 3 pamphlets.
Pretty sure that stuff came in later, post-Greyhawk. It certainly showed up in fanzines of the late 70s, though…
My solution is to run with as few as 2+me (the DM), and use a play structure that doesn’t require the same players to be present at every session. We always end rhe session in a safe location (town, safehouse, etc). If someone can’t make it, they’re just in suspended animation along with their gear and hirelings/retainers until they’re back.
Just not sweating the fact that it’s a game has gotten me a very consistent game every two weeks like clockwork.