I will also recommend letting her try out as many guns as possible. I did this when I first started to shoot. I tried out the Glock (can't remember which model), the Browning, the Beretta, and finally Sig Sauer. I eventually bought a Sig P228. It's a perfect fit for my hands, although I am not really petite. Any Sig you buy is very easy to field strip, unlike many Glocks, and 1911 style guns... I don't find the DA pull too much for me, and I have no trouble racking the slide on either my 9mm or my .45.
Good luck w/ your/her decision!
[This message has been edited by Darthmaum (edited September 10, 1999).]