Well, first off, I would like you to explicite the role women should have (in a general way). I think it would let the discussion be more focused. You should also explain what do you mean by working, does it mean their culture survived? That their economy was better off? Their people (men and women) happier?
As for the argument so far, that something worked before doesn't mean it will work in a changing world. Take Poland against Germany, their horses didn't work very well to counter tanks despite the fact that they had used cavalry before with sucess.
We also didn't use computers before without much problems so why use them now? Why use modern medecine? Electricity? etc.... If your argument was valid, without the use of all those things, we would be better off, right?