I want to know if this is something a hard working woman can handle to dig some holes for shrubs and small trees?

im an average size 40year old woman and i was able to dig 40 post holes 2 ft deep with it . it is cumbersome to carry. Its easy to start once I learned how: tip it to the side and pull the cord and stand on the upper side of a slope to make yourself a little taller. I think less upper body strength probably kept my arms from being jerked off when i hit big rocks or tree roots because it pulls out of my hand. If it didnt come out of my hands, pulling or even tearing back and arm muscles is a good possibility. If handles do jerk out of you hands, be aware of which body part is going to get hit by a spinning auger handle (stomach and knee caps was very unpleasant). In my soil a post hole digger would take 1 hour per hole. The auger in combination with digger ( have to stop often to remove large rocks), 15 mins per hole. Well worth the risk to me .

I am a 45 year old woman. I have no trouble digging the 2 feet holes necessary for post holes. Just cumbersome to carry.

Yes, but it does require some strength. It can get tiring if you have a lot of rocks.

I think so. I am a short and non-muscular man and I can handle it ok. But I am a bit heavy and mass does help hold the auger in place when it hits a rock. If you are under 100 lbs. be careful and brace yourself well.

That is what I bought mine for. If your dirt isn't too hard it should work great. Here in the Sierra foothills we have rock hard red dirt. This tool can give me a serious work out in the really compacted stuff and I am a 200 pound plus guy. If you have a buddy to help you lift it in and out of the holes it would be better. Don't figure on doing 8 hours on this thing either. You will be in your whirlpool for a week.