One of the biggest fallacies of the fantasy genre:
Fantasy: "Ha, ha, ha. Put down the axe boy. Go grab a bow and join the womenfolk on the firing line."
Real Life: "Ha! Can't even draw the bow. Go learn how to use an axe or start benching."
Real life war bows take up to 150 lbs / 70 kg of force to draw. Go ahead and try that with control and aim, then come tell me they're suitable for dainty people. Somehow Fantasy has managed to convince us that bows are for the physically weak. Hunting bows aren't that much lighter if they were going to put any killing power into the arrow either without compound action. Real medieval archers had to have huge muscular backs, shoulders, and arms. They were f-ing built!
The right weapon for the weaker folk would be the crossbow.