The Holy Prophet, Hadhrat Muhammad-ur Rasulullaah (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) said, 'The saying of 'Subhaanallaah' is for men and clapping is for women.' This simply means (according to Imam Bukhaari (Alayhi Rahmah)) that if a mistake is made by an Imaam during Salaah, the men can invite the attention of the Imaam by saying 'Subhaanallaah'; and the women by clapping their hands.

Shaykh Hafiz Ibn Hajar Al Asqalaani (Alayhi Rahmah) supports the above Hadith in his famous book, Bulugh Al-Maram in the tafsir of this Hadith he mentions the clapping is for woman because the men should not hear the woman's voice.

Why are women prohibited in giving out the Adhaan and leading Salaah? Why, even during the rituals of Hajj is she not supposed to raise her voice during the Talbiyah, except only so that her companion can hear her?
These have been explained by Shaykh Ibn Jibreen (Alayhi Rahmah) book 'Islamic Fataawa Regarding Women'.

 

Shaykh al Qaadi Abu Bakr ibn al Arabi al-Maaliki (Alayhi Rahmah) said that, 'the entire woman is awrah, her body and her voice; so, therefore, it is not permissible to uncover that except in cases of necessity, i.e. such as when testimony is given against her, medical treatment and asking her about her health issues.'

Shaykh Kamaal ud Din al-Siyuwaasi (Alayhi Rahmah) says in Sharh Fath al-Qadir that that 'the voice of a woman is Awrah, and, based on that, for a woman to learn the Holy Qur’an from a woman is better in my opinion than her learning the Holy Qur’an from a blind man.'

Although, referring to Imam Shaafi'ee (Alayhi Rahmah) - He says in his book, 'Rawdat al-Taalibeen', that 'her voice is not Awrah according to the more correct opinion, but it is Haraam to listen to it if there is the fear of fitnah.' Apart from that the 3 other schools of thoughts say it is her awrah.