This hierarchy in no way means that the person under authority is inferior to the person over him in authority. In other words, the wife is in no way inferior to her husband, nor are the children in any way inferior to their parents. All are equal in God's sight, but each has a different function in His plan. Authority is simply God's security system. It is His way of protecting His people from the attacks of Satan.
Authority is like an umbrella.
During a rainstorm, an umbrella keeps us from getting wet as long as we remain under it. If we step out from under the umbrella, we will get wet, possibly even drenched. Authority represents God's protection. It is the umbrella that keeps us from getting wet by the storms of life. When we step out from under the umbrella of authority, we automatically step into Satan's territory where we will always get rained on.