I'm not a female but I found a mower that was easy to start. My wife has the same problem starting mowers sometimes. The mower engine that is the easiest starting I have ever come across is the Briggs and Stratton 6.5hp Intek Pro. As a test I let my 8 year old son and my wife try to start it and they both were able to do so. I can grab the starter rope and start it with just a flick of my wrist and lower arm. Not the massive yank that many other engines need sometimes. Shop for mowers with the Briggs and Stratton Intek Pro. Another alternative is to get an electric start model. Perhaps the Honda equipped Lawn-Boy in the link below.

Here is a link that might be useful: Electric start Lawn-Boy.

rdaystrom

thank you for posting. My posting title was a little too sexist probably (ha).... I am so grateful you posted. I appreciate the input and will look into the B&S and electric start. After almost 30 yrs of typing on keyboards my fingers, wrists, elbows and shoulders cannot take the "yank" of the old fashioned mower anymore....

thanks again
Ruthie

The Briggs and Stratton "Touch-N-Mow" system uses a mechanical starter to start your engine. It is a pretty ingenious design.

Here's a webpage which explains the system:
Briggs and Stratton TNM

It is a nice system because it requires no battery to maintain and keep charged. When you let off the bail bar (kill handle), the engine inertia cranks the mechanical starter and thus winding up a spring. When you want to restart the engine, simply check that the Touch-N-Mow system is enabled, prime the engine, and close the bail bar. Voila! Engine started!