We live out in the country. Our house was broken into while our college age daughter was home alone. She hid behind the bed and called 911. Fortunately the burglar stayed in the master bedroom end of the house which is at the opposite end from our daughter's bedroom. It took about 25 minutes for police to arrive and the burglar was long gone.
I've always been around long guns and have several. Never cared for handguns but know how to use them. Only owned a worn out .22 revolver that I inherited from my dad when he passed away. Since the burglary we now have 6 handguns in the house one of which is on my person or within reach at all times. I think every level-headed female should legally own and legally carry a handgun. Old men should do likewise.
I feel much more secure and I hope I never have to use one except on targets.
Unfortunately, in today's world, women, especially older ladies, like my sister who is 80, should consider being armed. In CA I taught an NRA class called Women On Target. It was geared specifically to women who had little or no firearms experience. I also taught self defense classes for women who chose not to go armed. Simple martial arts moves that would help them in a self defense situation. In Prescott we have many older women who live alone, widows, divorcees, etc. There are many in my wife's age group, late 60s, early 70s, who live alone and feel the need to be able to protect themselves. I have taught several of her friends to safely handle firearms and shoot defensively. They all say they feel safer if they were the target of a home invasion, or carjacking, etc. Hopefully, none of them will ever have the need to use the skills they were taught, however, I feel like they are safer and more secure should the need arise.