Ms. Parmar traces the problem at least partly to technology’s image. When her team asked children to draw a person who worked in technology, all sketched men, often geeky and disheveled.
This is an article reiterating some of the outward, appearance related elements that stop girls from even getting started in technology. That and, as the writer says, the lack of sense of belong + subconscious stereotypes. I think Raspberry Pi might be a great way to get a girl you love started in technology!
Technically Pretty 
Mar 08, 2013 @ 16:59:36
So when do you start a girl coding? I began with Turtle Graphics and BASIC when I was 7 or 8 (second grade). I used to type up lists on the computer and design things while playing with other little girls, although none of them were bitten by the tech bug later in life despite my enthusiasm. I think making it part of the play environment encourages a comfort level with eventual class work. Mind you, I never took a computer class in high school because they were all lame.