1.0 link Rainbow Dash Network http://rainbowdash.net/ Toksyuryel (toksyuryel) http://rainbowdash.net/toksyuryel http://rainbowdash.net/notice/1414606 @<span class="vcard"><a href="http://rainbowdash.net/user/6761" class="url" title="My real name"><span class="fn nickname">pony</span></a></span> It's layered atop several things but the root of it is instinct; indeed, instinct comes into play on multiple levels to enforce the continual buildup of gender roles. As social creatures we not only have gender-based instincts but we also have society-based instincts. So the gender-based instincts establish roles on a societal level, and then society-based instincts enforce conformity with them. Fitting in, being part of the group, or to put it more bluntly not rocking the boat is a fundamental social instinct of ours so once something becomes established it becomes very difficult to unestablish it.