Interestingly, although children are commanded to obey both parents in verse 1 and honor father and mother in verse 2, only the fathers are addressed here. It could be that both the father and mother are in view, but in light of the hierarchical structures, the father is responsible for his whole family. Although it was common for primitive societies to be matriarchal (lineage is traced through the mother), Israel followed the patriarchal structure with the father having absolute control over his children, even over his married sons and their wives if they lived with him.
Ephesians, An exegetical commentary