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Ladies have special considerations to consider.

https://m.youtube.com/user/TheWellArmedWomanTV

The well armed woman also has a blog and classes around the country.
Google.

If you can afford range fees, many shooting ranges will let you RENT different guns to try them out. If possible, do that.
Otherwise, a few trips to a gun store to just fondle the inventory helps immensely, too.

You can go into any gun store and ask questions—guys like to help, but still a guy doesn’t quite “get” the woman’s perspective.
Try holding various rifles and shotguns, to see what feels comfortable.
Ask lots of questions about type of ammo, how easy is it to get ammo. Some guns can use more than one type of ammo, and that’s an advantage.

Don’t buy anything your first time in the store. Look and compare. Bring a notepad and write stuff down about the guns that interest you. Then go home and check the internet for more pros and cons on those particular guns.

There are lots of gun forums online but I found these overwhelming. I was reading words, not understanding the jargon.
Put your hands on a few guns FIRST, find out what sorta feels good for you—much like test driving a car. (Like cars, there’s make and model. Oftentimes a lot of confusing letters and numerals. Those are important. That’s why I like to take a notepad.)
THEN go to the gun forums and read the threads on THAT particular gun.

Are you a lady of small stature as I am? Some things that were of major concern to me:

1.) the weight of the weapon. Most shotguns and many rifles are too dang heavy for me to hold up, making accuracy of aim nearly impossible. BUT I didn’t want lightweight to equal wimpy. You want as much power and range as possible, but ease of operation for YOU is essential. Try aiming the weapon for a full minute, see how much your shoulder hurts !
This weight issue was the big one for me.
My experience was that every guy I asked, advised me to get a 12 guage. Could. Not. Hold. It. Up. YMMV.

2.) the kick. I did not want a weapon that would knock me down when fired.
If I miss and end up on my butt, the Bad Guy now has the advantage.

3) adjustable stock? I like these because the gun can be shortened to accommodate my little bitty arms. This in turn helps the weapon seem less heavy to hold.

4.) sighting. Would I need to purchase and install a scope? Some guns have laser sights.

5.) single shot or multiple?

6.) range. How close do I hafta let the feral hog get before I choot ‘em?

7.) ammo, availability and expense.

I hope this helps some.

The first rifle to purchase should always be a .22 of some sort. Ruger, Marlin, or another brand. You can find one of these rifles for a few hundred dollars.

It has many uses and it is also the best way to learn shooting because they are enjoyable and easy to handle and practice with and the ammunition is ridiculously cheap in comparison to other rifles. You can hunt with it, kill or wound varmints, and in a pinch you can use it for defense.

This is the starting place and the way most of us enthusiasts began our firearms journey and we still shoot them today!

Bang for the buck you can’t beat a .22 rifle. Learning to shoot you can’t beat a .22 rifle.