I can't really answer your first question, although my student's motivation for wanting to find goddesses has something to do with his research, which is on Philip Pullman.

But I know what you mean. And it's notable that several of these figures come in only at the end of the book, to say in effect: 'Well done, and here's your reward!' or possibly (and more dispiritingly for the independent-minded protagonist) 'I've actually been watching over you all this time, my pet. Didn't you guess that the Well of Wishes in chapter two was really my belly button, or that the Forest of Forgetting was in truth a lock of my naturally-curly hair?'

On the other hand, male gods can be pretty demanding when it comes to keeping your socks dry, washing your hands, etc. Cf Leviticus!