Hey Chief,
The safety is manageable for me. Big enough, but not too big.
As for the operation for an average shooting woman, it's probably not a fit IMO because...
1) hard to rack slide
2) recoil is quite a bit IMO.
3) kind of a sensitive trigger. Especially after all the rounds it is a soft break.
4) did I mention the recoil? Not as bad as the R9. Not as good as the Kahr.
Those are my takes on it.
My Kahr pm9 has been money as far as reliability goes. My Kahr CW380 is one of the softest shooting 380's I've shot, but it struggles with reliability after 500 rounds and a trip to the factory. I read they like certain ammo, but it's not near and dear to me so I haven't invested the time to crack that code.
As for the 238, my mother in law has one and she loves to shoot it because...
1) The slide is easily racked
2) it's a soft shooter
3) accurate
4) pretty little gun
She does NOT CCW and I wonder if she did how that package would work for her considering the whole 1911 battery of arms thing.
Of course it would lend to options such as not carrying with one in the chamber or other "safe" concepts (since she can racke the slide) that would be better than not carrying at all.
All in all I think it's a good piece. I just am not comfortable/confident with the 1911 arrangement for me or my wife. That being said I'm not real comfortable with more than a G19 without one in the chamber for my wife where she is on her desire to get training time in. Just too many other important things in life right now for her.
Hope that helps chief.