Obviously the fact that she was a woman made the story more appealing, which would be fine if it was a true story, it is nice for people to have role models they can identify with and be inspired by. Everyone loves an underdog story...well I do.
I sometimes find the fact that women are successfully being high profile scam artists (Elizabeth Holmes etc) encouraging in a twisted way. Plenty of men have made a bunch of money by cheating and lying in the business world, women are now making their mark too (and likely always have of course)! why not? =)
My point is if she did make the app herself it makes sense to hold her up as a role model but holding her up as a "prodigy" is counter productive.
If anything it is a little sexist (not you, the "prodigy" idea). That if a 16 boy makes an app it's just normal but if a girl does it, she is a prodigy.
We need to be teaching people that men and women are equal and that girls can do this stuff just the same as boys. Saying it takes a prodigy to do it discourages people from even trying because it comes with the implication that person is capable of something the average girl isn't.
IMHO, we shouldn't even use the word prodigy. It is a heavy weight for those who are labeled as such, and in most cases it is just a happy combination of passion, intelligence and hard work well directed.
I sometimes find the fact that women are successfully being high profile scam artists (Elizabeth Holmes etc) encouraging in a twisted way. Plenty of men have made a bunch of money by cheating and lying in the business world, women are now making their mark too (and likely always have of course)! why not? =)