Industrialization came quickly and brutally as technology overtook societal development.
Most of the world is still stuck in a medieval state of mind, with belief in divine hierarchy. As such social mobility is barely existent, the lower classes have no hope of being raised out of poverty.
Gender roles are rigid and nearly everyone is incredibly misogynist, despite the existence of female rulers in Faithspire and the White crowns. Women are not present in politics. Female soldiers are not accepted by any faction. There is no concept of equality between the sexes.
Violence is accepted, mercy is rarely seen as a virtue, the poor are seen as expendable.