It isn't that women couldn't "take care of themselves". I got chewed out for stepping in front of a coworker to get on an elevator first. I and another guy had to explain that we (guys) are supposed to be first on/last off, in case of a malfunction. Guys are supposed to hold doors & chairs - probably because dresses would either get in the way in the Victorian era...hard to manage one of those things with a bustle and hold a door or move a chair I would think. Guys are supposed to walk to the outside on a sidewalk, so we get splashed...but in urban areas, guys were also supposed to be to the inside so that any trash thrown out a window didn't fall on the lady. Guys should lead going downstairs and follow going upstairs, in case the lady loses her footing (probably because of heels, I'd guess).
We guys are considered expendable...and I've got no problem with that.
