It is possible, due to lack of socio-economic coupling with the western economies, the social norms could be stuck in a previous, historically-accepted-but-not-now state. Keep in mind that often cultures are stagnated by what is possible, impossible, and hard to accomplish within that country. Someone might want to seek to promote gay rights but some more conservative or religiously tied governments might even outlaw discussion or depiction of such things. If it were up to the bible when Jesus was alive, Gays would be stoned and it took up until this century to shake steadfast stigmas against them. It takes time, and as resources become more abundant as the world becomes more developed, we will eventually drift away as a whole from the 'might is right' philosophy that governed the animal kingdom.
I am not trying to throw shade against any group, person, or other entity, I am simply providing possible reasons why certain cultures tend to have such extreme elements depicted in popular culture.
(also effects of war, famine, natural disaster, and other tragedies could dampen the overall public mindset to be more dark. The one that I know is that during the period after china's last dynasty, china was largely divvied up and used by european countries, more or less treated like a collection of colonies. Now as China has regained its national strength, most of the chinese population are hyper-nationalist, shunning western influences, [and largely blaming america, due to it being the 'western leader' in their eyes]. Essentially China held a grudge against a lot of countries that 'trampled' over them and now they want to clap back for things like Nanjing.)
