Final answer:
Historical gender roles led to female soldiers being excluded from combat positions in the U.S. and Britain, with the military viewing women's contributions as secondary. Advocates like Frances Bolton worked to shift public opinion by highlighting the continuity between civilian and military roles for women, eventually helping women achieve full military status and benefits.
Step-by-step explanation:
The exclusion of female soldiers from combat positions in the United States and Britain was historically linked to traditional gender roles and the belief that women's military service should be auxiliary to men's. Women were expected to play supportive roles both on the homefront and within the military context. This perspective was so deeply ingrained that during World War II, women enlisting in the military were largely seen as freeing up male soldiers for combat, rather than participating directly in front-line roles themselves.
Despite the skepticism and concerns about traditional gender roles breaking down, public opinion shifted over time. This was in part due to effective advocacy by individuals such as Ohio congresswoman Frances Bolton, who emphasized that women's military roles were a continuation of their civilian responsibilities, rather than a radical shift. The value of women's service was increasingly recognized, leading to women achieving full military status and benefits over time.