> One counter point that immediately jumps to mind is the modern concept of "child" is likely far different than in the past, when manhood ceremonies might have occurred as early as 15 years old.
...You're arguing that the age of manhood has grown lower over time?
You have your bar mitzvah at 13.
> As for women in war, just from written era of history (the last 4k years) there's ample evidence of women fighting in war and being honored for valor: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women_in_ancient_warfare
Here's what that link looks like:
> 16th century BCE – Ahhotep I is credited with a stela at Karnak for "having pulled Egypt together, having cared for its army, having guarded it, having brought back those who fled, gathering up its deserters, having quieted the South, subduing those who defy her".
> 1479–1458 BCE – Reign of Hatshepsut. It is possible that she led military campaigns against Nubia and Canaan.
> 13th century BCE – Estimated time of the Trojan War. According to ancient sources, several women participate in battle
> 13th century BCE – Lady Fu Hao, consort of the Chinese emperor Wu Ding, led 3,000 troops into battle during the Shang dynasty.
> Mid-12th century BCE – Deborah believed to have been appointed judge and defeated the army of King Jabin of Canaan, according to the Book of Judges.
> 11th century BCE – 4th century CE [sic] – Approximate time for the burial of a Kangju woman in modern Kazakhstan who was buried with a sword and a dagger.
> Late 9th century–8th century BCE – Shammuramat (Semiramis) ruled the Neo-Assyrian Empire. She was the first woman to rule an empire without a man ruling with her.
You might notice that so far only one of these examples involves a woman fighting in war, and that example is taken from legendary "documentation" written 600+ years after the events.