Male domination of the female is entrenched in human nature, according to Genesis 3:26.  Also, a view of the universe in terms of hierarchical authority became entrenched in the church in the Middle Ages.  Ths view actually came from mixing Plato and Aristotle's ideas into Christianity; but once a teaching becomes part of church tradition, it is very, very hard to change.  The church as a whole is by nature resistent to change, which is both its great strength and its great weakness.