Women learning Torah

"Women and slaves are exempt from Torah study" Hilchot Talmud Torah 1:1

"A woman who learns Torah has reward" Hilchot Talmud Torah 1:13 (1:16 at link)

"Even though she has reward the Rabbis commanded that he shouldn't teach his daughter Torah; since most women's minds are not directed towards being educated, and they will redirect the Torah towards nonsense due to the poverty of their minds." Hilchot Talmud Torah 1:13 (1:16 at link)

This is very difficult, if she has reward why shouldn't a father teach her, and if she will use the Torah for nonsense why does she have reward?

"Someone who was not taught by his father must teach himself when he becomes aware; as it says: "And you should learn them and you should protect to do them". And similarly you find universally that study is placed before action, since study causes action but action does not lead to study" Hilchot Talmud Torah 1:3 (1:4 at link)

Since women have an obligation in action, it would seem that Torah study has central relevance to them. Would this obligate them to study (although not under the formal heading of Talmud Torah)?

"It is a Mitzva upon all of the wise in Israel to teach all students, as it says: "you should teach them (v'shinantam) to your children" (Devarim 6:7), the tradition teaches " 'Your children', these are your students" " Hilchot Talmud Torah 1:2

It seems like this obligation, incumbent upon 'the wise', applies to both male and female students. Note that the exclusion of women from Torah study comes from the verse which applies to biological sons "and you shall teach them (v'limadtem) to your sons to speak them" (Devarim 11:19) on which the sifrei comments "Your sons, and not your daughters". This distinction fits well with the Halacha seen earlier that only the father is commanded not to teach their daughter. Apparently every one capable is required to teach a girl or woman who has become a 'student'.

"And I say that one shouldn't stroll in the orchard until he has filled his belly with bread and meat. This 'bread' and 'meat' is to know the explanation of the forbidden and permitted, and similarly from other Mitzvot. And even though the Rabbis called these topics 'a small matter' - since they said: " 'a great matter' is the 'act of the chariot' (i.e. metaphysics) 'a small matter' these are the constructs of Abaye and Rava." - It is appropriate to study them first,  since they initially settle a persons mind and they are the great good which Hakadosh Baruch bestowed for settling this world in order to inherit the world to come; and all people are able to know them, great or small, man or woman, one whose understanding is wide or whose understanding is narrow." Hilchot Yesodei Hatorah 4:13 (4:21 at link)

Women are obligated in the love of God and knowledge is a necessary ingredient of that love, of which all women are fully capable (at least in the Davar Katan form which is the limit for most men and women). Yet again it seems that women have a need to study Torah.

Going back to the beginning, women are exempt from the Mitzvah of Talmud Torah (which is the combination of teaching and learning, i.e. being part of the formal transmission of Torah study through the generations). But she is not exempt from many important features of Torah study which were mentioned above. And even with regard to Mesora, women have a special role, see the Rav's eulogy for the Rebbetzin of Talne, where he describes the special Mesora of Torat Imecha. Furthermore it is obvious from real-world experience that women are capable of the most advanced forms of thought, an observation supported by the Halacha in Yesodei Hatorah.

If so, why is a father instructed to not teach his daughter? It seems that this is because a father is likely to pressure her in a way which is not best for her development, since a parent is often moved by their own psychological need for gaining honor vicariously through their children (I believe that I heard this point from Rabbi Chait). Therefore this is guidance only for a father, any one else may, and perhaps must, teach women (at least those who are interested).

This command to the father is based on the fact that 'most women's minds are not directed to learning', from modern experience this seems clearly to not be an intrinsic biological or psychological lack (there are clearly both biological and neurological/psychological differences between men and women but they don't seem relevant here). Therefore it seems to be expressing a social fact that women are not trained in thought and therefore if an individual father tries to break with that norm it is likely that to stem from his own needs. Today when girls start learning in school at a young age (and in many areas are more successful than boys) their minds are 'directed towards learning' from that very beginning and this concern doesn't apply. Therefore, perhaps, even a father may (and, since he wants the best for his daughter, should) teach his daughters.

General Notes:
1. When thinking about this topic we should take special caution since as human beings we often have an implicit bias against women. Chazal teach: "And the daughters of Tzlefchad approached - When the daughters of Tzefchad heard that the land would be divided to the tribes and not the women, they gathered to plan. They said: "God's mercy is not like man's mercy. Man has greater mercy on men than on women; but He who spoke and the world was, is not that way, rather his mercy is on everyone equally, men and women, as it says "God is good to all, and his mercy is on all of his creations."" (Sifri Pinchas) It seems that even the greatest human being, Moshe, was potentially subject to this bias, if not for the fact that his life was guided by imitating the merciful ways of God.

2. When quoting sources in the Mishneh Torah I am using the standard numbering of the halachot. In parentheses are the numbers used at the linked page. Unfortunately I don't know of an online edition which follows Rabbi Yochai Makbili's practice of keeping the original numbering while using paragraph breaks with subscripts to identify the authentic division. I would appreciate any practical suggestions people have.