Humans behave in a very similar manner to a baboon troop.
There are five main social units in a baboon troop:
These first four groups form the core of society and are the backbone of the structure of the troop.
The alpha males can only keep their power by continually prooving that :
The dominant females (alpha-females) maintain indirect control of the society by demanding that the strongest males fulfill the two main obligations listed above. Only those males who fulfill these obligations obtain breeding rights (i.e. the society's rewards)
The rest of the males are outcasts from the group. Their primary function is to defend and provide for the troop.Their needs are totally subordinate to the needs of the females and their offspring.
Despite their subordinate nature - the majority of the males support the societal structure because it is their only chance (however slim) to share in the rewards of the society i.e. to get a chance to perpetuate their off-spring.
I believe that, like the baboon troop, human society is also ruled by a small group of alpha-males who maintain their position by putting the needs of women and children ahead of those of the majority of men.
I believe that the bulk of the remaining males are so busy full-filling the large number of responsibilities that society demands of men, that they do not have time to question or organize against the innate injustice of the societal structure. Most are bought off by the hope they will share in the "rewards" offered to the males that conform.
Its just a theory mind you.