I like to think that your upbringing also has an effect on how you do treated women generally on a everyday level.
I would consider myself fortunate when growing not to see my parents having blazing arguments in front of me and my siblings.
I never ever saw my dad hit or threaten to hit my mum as well. In all the years living at home my dad has never ever called my mum a 'bitch' etc.
I agree with the upbringing part and will toss in your peers for a thousand. I was completely oblivious to males hitting females until one of my associates did it to his girl. Completely threw me off guard. And the fact that she accepted it as normal distorted my overall perception of the male/female dynamic.