If it is going to be a true purse pistol then forget about the autos and get a hammerless 5 shot .38 special revolver.

One of the benefits to a woman carrying a gun in her purse is the ability to fire that gun from inside her purse should she not havethetime to retrieve it from her purse and take aim. Alsothe would be attacker has no idea what-so-ever. A revolver will be able to fire all of its rounds where as a semi-auto will get off a single shot and likely jam.