But you're right, there's really no comparison in physical strength between women and men in martial arts. I don't train with the "big guys", I'm very happy in the novice group at the far back left hand side of the mat! My husband, on the other hand, just eats that stuff up.
I prefer to place my trust in the dependable products of the Colt Firearm Manufacturing Company.
The best way to get a woman to change her mindset on guns, and to want to start carrying one, is to have her go on the mat with the "big guys". She is already in the class, she is already determined to do something about self-defense, etc. Quit pulling your punches with women enrolled in those self defense classes. Dont give them a false sense of security by being easy on them. Once she sees the futility of relying solely on karate, she will opt for the gun. I took a self defense class, and my black belt instructor told me that if I was more than a step or 2 away, I could defeat him with my gun.