No, most of learning is not rote memory. While we are absorbing information, the main focus is on understanding it properly. Reading comp. is certainly part of it, but the main thing is the logical analysis involved. Readers here may disagree with me, but that’s a huge conversation of its own, involving a misunderstanding of the idea of limud bekius.
Here’s a thought. Since learning Torah is not a mitzvah shehazman grama, why wouldn’t a woman be just as mechuyiv in it as a man?
Here’s a thought. Go learn, and then start a discussion in learning.