get her an LC9, their the same size and its a more potent caliber.
I'd rather have her willing to train on a caliber she can handle and shoot well and does a reasonable job of dissuading the bad guy from continuing his plans.
Caliber bravado has no place in a serious forum.
Real life fact: Not everyone wants or needs a 9mm+ pistol.
The LC380 fills a real niche in that it is a lower recoil, higher capacity, easier to get a hold of alternative to the LCP and other pocket pistols that is still quite small overall. Also consider that many people these days now already own a 380 pistol as their only handgun; these people may not want or care to add another cartridge to their supply logistics.
I have both an LCP (380) and an LC9 and they really aren't the same size. The LC9 is concealable and actually the easier to shoot of the two I think but the LCP is smaller, lighter and thinner.