A simple, short-barrel revolver in .38 Special is usually a cheaper, smaller and lighter alternative. You don't have to cycle a slide to put the weapon into battery which can be a physically demanding challenge for many women.
www.ammoman.com is where mine comes from.
My wife isn’t a small woman. 5’10” and a few too many pounds (and I love every one of them). She has shot my Ruger .40 S&W but it is a bit much recoil for her. She has talked to some female friends who have their CC and they have convinced her the limitations of the small revolver are not where she wants to go.