A few decades ago - long enough that you might remember it if you're REALLY old, but even Haruhito wasn't born yet when this happened - there was famine and civil unrest in Wutai leading to a generalized peasant revolt. These things almost always end poorly for the peasants, but some fast talking on both sides and the religious leaders of Wutai throwing their/Leviathan's support behind the peasants led to Cooler Heads Prevailing and the farmers accepted an increased set of rights and privileges in exchange for returning to their farms and continuing to mostly keep the ruling class in the style to which they had become accustomed. This led to a kind of cultural revolution, the upshot of which was increased socioeconomic mobility for most people and also a marked increase in the status of women across the board. Upper-class/noble culture has turned to a kind of history-venerating stoicism in response, and they talk a lot more about the responsibilities of their class these days. Literature and music is an absolute trip right now, getting a lot bolder and more experimental while still showing a lot of affection and respect for more traditional forms of art, and it's one of the realms in which all classes can meet on a roughly even footing.

And that, in short, is why Takeko and Yuko can get away with Yes Kids No Boyfriends.