When you’re preparing for a voyage to someplace where you cannot change the circumstances, like the intense pressures of being on the ocean floor, or the need for air and the lack of gravity in space, you need to adapt. 
Whether that’s building space suits, or submarines capable of withstanding tremendous force, if you don’t build protective gear, you’re doing to die.

But if the circumstances are dictated by culture, that means it’s ultimately dictated by people. And people can change and be enrolled in new ways forward.

So it might be tempting to think about needing to “toughen up” to deal with other human beings, but why not focus on enrolling harmful human beings in new behaviors and thought patterns? It’s more work, but ultimately creates a more humane environment for everyone.