[Avodah] Chanuka: Why Don't Women Light The Menorah? Should They?

[Prof. Levine]

 From http://revach.net/article.php?id=3160

The mitzva of Mehadrin requires each person in the house to light 
their own candles.  If so, why don't women, who are obligated in Ner 
Chanukah, light their own candles?  The Mishna Brura (675:9) brings 
from the Olas Shmuel that a married women is like her husband, so she 
doesn't light. Even single girls are batel to the men in this 
respect, and do not light.

Why are women batel to men when it comes to Ner Chanuka if they are 
also obligated?  The Chasam Sofer (Shabbos 21b) explains that since 
Ner Chanuka is performed outside in the street, it is not Tzanua for 
a woman to light her candles among the men.  Rather they should 
listen to men from inside the house.

The Piskei Tshuvos (671:2) brings the Mishmeres Shalom (48:2) that 
says that if there are only women in the house, then in fact, all of 
them should light.  However even in this case it is customary for 
only the mother to light and be Motzi the rest of the girls.

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Question:  Given that today most people do not light their menora 
outside in the street,  is the reason given by the CS for women not 
lighting still valid?  Also, if the husband is lighting outside in 
the street and the women are inside,  can he be motzi them?  I recall 
that in one shul the rov insisted that men not daven in the ladies 
section, because he felt that if they davened there, they were not 
counted as part of the minyan.  YL
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