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I am thinking the instructor means your wife needs a longer sight radius. Many of the options noted above are short barrel pistols. Teaching someone to shoot with a short barreled gun is an exercise in futility, it can be done but, - - - . Ya'll go look at "service" size handguns (4" barrel or longer) again, look at an M&P (my first recommendation) an XDm or a Beretta PX4 Storm all three guns have adjustable grip sizes and are small hand friendly. The Gen 4 Glocks have grip adapters but the Glock grip is still bulkier than the other three.

A lady in one of my CHL classes was using a BHP at her husband's insistence she shot OK, afterward, she shot my wife's M&P and her shooting and comfort level went up exponentially. Fit and comfort are paramount in gun selection.

edit: Unless your wife is willing to dedicate hours and hours to master the 1911 it really isn't a good choice for a CCW. I see numerous 1911 pistols in my classes they are the ones that malfunction most of the time due to operator error and some of the poorest scores come from these shooters. A plastic gun that is point and shoot is a better choice for someone that may not be able or willing to spend the time to fully master a 1911.

The High Power probably has the smallest grip size of the double stack 9mm handguns. I wonder why the instructor wants her to get a High Power? They are great guns but not a good beginners gun IMHO. If grip size is an issue, I would recommend an S&W M&P (full size) they come with three different size back straps. Most women I've shown an M&P with the small grip on it have fallen in love with it.

The XDM is another gun with interchangeable grips as is the Beretta PX4 Storm.

My wife loves her M&P JG with the pink grip and breast cancer ribbon.

edit: A wise man will let his lady pick her own gun.