1. A person can fulfill his obligation of Megillah by either reading it on his own [provided that he will read it from a proper Megillah scroll] or by listening to another person’s reading. In this latter case, the one reading must bear in mind to discharge the listener’s obligation, and the one listening must bear in mind to fulfill his obligation with that reading. One cannot, however, fulfill his obligation by listening to the reading of a minor [under the age of thirteen, since his own obligation only stems fromchinuch-training]. Some say that a woman may also not discharge a man of his obligation(Shulchan AruchandMishnah Berurah689).
2. A woman reading for herself, or a man reading only on behalf of women [when he had already fulfilled his own obligation], should recite the blessing, “Blessed are You… Who has sanctified us with His commandments and has commanded us to hear the reading of the Megillah.” This differs from the standard text of, “and has commanded us regarding the reading of the Megillah” (Mishnah Berurah ad loc.). Some say that a woman, or a man reading for women, should not recite the blessing at all (Ben Ish Chai, Tezaveh; Kaf HaChaim 687:19).
