Thanks for all these ideas on the thread. My wife, is very petite. She was in the Army and Navy in her youth but ended up getting a medical discharge in her service in the Army shooting a rifle that threw out her shoulder. She has expressed wanting to shoot with me and try it again, perhaps hunt too. Some of these options mentioned with managed recoil loads, etc seem like it would be a good fit for her without just having her limited to plinking with the .22. Her shoulder has long since healed but I've been leery on her trying something more than a .22 that might cause her to get hurt again.
Just wanted to say thanks to everyone as this youth thread is giving me some ideas/options also for my wife.