Islam and Gender Roles

This is an interesting piece in The Christian Science Monitor which raises the issue of the right of women in Islam to lead prayers. To my knowledge, in Islam the role of Imam has been always held by men while women, contrary to the Monitor's article claim, are allowed to attend Friday prayers but they have to be in a separate room where they can hear the Imam delivering the prayer whitout mixing with other men. Coming to the pilgrimage to Mecca women and men can mix while performing the different collective rituals of Hajj, but at the time of prayers they are not allowed to mix with men and they have to stand in a separate group. In fact, in Islam women are encouraged to attend Friday prayers in the mosque but they are not obliged to do so. However women, can lead prayers at home and this is only in the absence of a male adult who will then lead the prayer while women will stand behind him.

I think I need more research on this issue and I know that in Christianity there are women ministers and priestesses (if this is the correct term for a female priest) but I wonder what's the take of Christianity and Judaism regarding the role of woman as religious leader whether in a Church or a Synagogue.