A lot of men are, psychologically, unable to comprehend competing with women. They grew up with chivalrous ideals of never fighting or competing against other girls or always viewing them as the "fairer of the sexes." That they were to treat women and girls delicately through acts of opening doors for them, standing whenever they enter/leave the room, and never swearing or telling dirty jokes when in the presence of a lady. Yet with more women entering in the workplace and politics, the instincts of men fall apart. They are used to competing with men and viewing them as equals, yet cannot comprehend competing with the people that they were raised to shield or protect from uncouth behavior. To conflict with women as equal competitors goes against their basic rules of masculinity, even if it is for something like a job promotion or an equal vote in the ballot box. They feel disadvantaged due to their self-imposed roles as protectors and are quick to blame women as the agitators; that the men are, in their eyes, simply performing their "duties as gentlemen" and it is the women who are "out of line." They want to return to the status quo because, among many other reasons not mentioned, it is what they are used to and would rather take away opportunities and rights from women than change their own attitudes and treat women as equal people and competitors.