Can she rack the slide, a lot of women can't.
Exactly. Very stiff for the 380s, make sure she can do it, and do it with ease else she won't use it.
Let her choose what she wants if she wants to carry. Suggestions:
Beretta P21a (.22LR) or the .25 version have a tip up barrel. No need to ever work the slide. Worlds batter than a gun she won't carry or won't use.
Kel-Tec P32 is much easier to operate than the 380s.
Quality, defined as conformance to requirements, is excellent.
100% reliable through 400+.
9 - 10 oz. loaded, nothing lighter or slimmer.
Much lower recoil.
Stick with ball to avoid rim-lock. It can happen with short ammo.
You can smooth away the plastic molding flash and sharp edges easily with a sharp knife or sandpaper.
Also file lower the mag. release button.
Put hi-viz paint on front sight. Practice to get used to the trigger - 100 rds will develop startling accuracy at useable ranges.
Inexpensive enough to not care if something happens to it.