Even regardless of background, there's an element known as "character growth", wherein experiences shape the character. A lot of Zalanthan culture is biased against a lot of things, but considering potential circumstances, any character might end up the exception, whether through ignorance, manipulation, or some combination in between. I disagree with if/then logic in these situations. The circumstances are exceptional, but character development is not exceptional, and should not be viewed as a "snowflake" trait.
Note that this does not extend to the rules I interpret as "core", and therefor, hard rules, as someone else mentioned, an elf riding should be extremely weird, and in my opinion, so should activities such as slut-shaming, or somehow interpreting the gender of the character to influence their potential and/or motive. You know what their motive is, male or female, they're out to bilk you out of all you're worth, then stab you to death for your waterskin. There may be exceptions to their motives, but the general approach would not be to go out and make instant best friends for life with the entire known world.