You don't argue with a four-year old about why he shouldn't eat candy for dinner. You don't punch a mentally handicapped guy even if he punches you first. And you don't argue when a women tells you she's only making 80 cents to your dollar. It's the path of least resistance. You save your energy for more important battles.
Every social organisation which is rooted in life still lasts a long time even after the conditions from which it drew its strength have changed in a manner unfavourable to it.