Joseph, years ago you only had mechitzas for davening in shul.
At weddings, the men danced at one end and the women at the other end. There was no more yetzer hara to look at them at that time, than there is today. As you know, where there is a will, there is a way- mechitza or no mechitza.
And guess what, look what came out of the previous generations. Joseph, you probably would not have eaten your eltere zaide’s food because he had to rely on many kulos which you would not accept. Yet, look at the einekle that he produced, kulos and all.