It's interesting to note the range of attitudes here and also, how our particular life circumstances can color our attitudes towards everything else.
When I was young, I was married, briefly, to a real a**hole. I swore I would rather "be on the bus trip with the retired schoolteachers," than be married to another chauvinist. I am not sure how someone could live through the late sixties/early seventies and think he could continue treating any woman like a second class citizen. I've always been extremely outspoken about "my rights," which, when I lived in AZ was a bit uncommon. But, I managed to find my DH, who was determined not to replicate his father .
You are right, Stacey Sue; social class sometimes (not always) plays a role in determining these attitudes. Or at least, the role models you see in your family.
I am lucky in that there is longevity and general "good genes" on both sides of my family. I have my medical "stuff," but it's mostly internal, and after my bout of undetermined medical issues a couple of years ago, I just have decided to ignore most of it, use coping skills like meditation, and keep riding my bike. I am a little slower, but, I am working on that. I wish my body didn't rebel against running, and it *is* hard for me to accept that I just can't do it without messing up my hip/back.
About twelve, thirteen years ago, I began gaining weight and looking very menopausal. My friends said, "That's just the way it is." I knew better. I hated the way I looked and felt and I was burned out at the gym. I had been seriously skinny throughout my thirties and pretty much at a normal weight for me from 40-45. My DH had started riding and I was secretly hating him for it. One day, in 1999, I went out and walked five miles, up some pretty big hills, without water, in 90 degree weather. When I came back, he said to me, "If you can do that, you can ride." Unbeknownst to me, he ordered me some shorts and a jersey, gloves, and a helmet, and set up his old mountain bike for me. He had to push me up a small hill on the first five mile ride I took. I saw changes from riding pretty quickly and life pretty much has revolved around the bikes since then.