.38 sounds about right. Some .38s can take .38 mag or .357 if you should down the line decide you can handle a larger round.
My wife is 4' 11" and 100 lbs and shoots a 12 guage, so a big round or recoil doesn't always mean it's not for a woman. It doesn't bother some.
Where can you find a .38 chambered for the longer .357??????