kfunk's right.
its because Biblical 'submission' and 'submission' in a broader context suggest different things. obviously this cannot be fully blamed on society, because when explained in very simple terms, the doctrine of 'equal but different' and submission between men and women in the Bible could easily be interpreted as.. "women must submit/yield to men in regard to everything all the time because thats what God established".
the thing is so many people think because we are suppose to submit to our husbands it means it we are less. we are equals with different roles, the husbands role is to lead his wife and children in a loving way and to provide, whilst submitting to God, and the women is to submit to her husbands leadership, be home with the children e.t.c. IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE HERE THAT THE BIBLE DOES NOT TELL US TO SUBMIT TO ALL MEN, JUST THE HUSBAND. and of course honour your mother and father.
IT can be summarised like this:
The children (if any) submit, and honour there parents
The wife submits to her husband although they are a partnership, and the husband loves his wife and cares and leads her
the husband and wife, and children follow God.
The man is not the highest authority God is.