The Russians saw no problems with using female soldiers in the Great Patriotic War as the need was urgent and overcame this natural conditioning by breeding spectacularly ugly women.
The Australian Army is currently debating wether to allow female soldiers in combat roles, but the debate is being driven not by equality issues but rather falling recruiting numbers! This seems to me to be looking at the problem the wrong way, ie if you can't get the soldier you want, alter (or lower) your standards to get the numbers you need.