Suppose gender inequality provides a survival advantage, would that mean a fight for equality is misguided?

In this question I started getting into issues about how a woman’s expectation than a man pays for her during a date is an example of how society pressures us into unequal behavior. Frankly, it is frustrating to me, because I feel like we, as a society, have been fighting for equality for many decades, and we seem to be no further along than when I was a teen.

It made me wonder whether these behavior patterns are reinforced on a genetic level and if they have a survival advantage. If so, does that mean that a society that valued equality of the genders would have a disadvantage? Could our bodies work against our philosophical principles? If so, can principle overcome nature? Is it even wise to try?