Because they have what men want, and other men are hard wired instinctually to protect them (and treat hurting them with greater dishonor). It keeps them alive through basically anything.

But beatings aren't necessary to curb it. Simply a more balanced power structure. A modern woman has all the cards in a relationship, and she knows it. Its why she puts zero effect into holding back her neuroticism, because she can let it fully out and men will still engage with them.

Throughout history men still held some of the cards necessary to make her try. Often times he didn't even need to ever use them, only "the implication" of them was enough to keep things level.