The role of the Russian male within the family was a very authoritative one. The male wielded almost autocratic power over his family. He had final say in family affairs and disputes. His word was law. He was to raise obedient children. He could, if they were disobedient, beat them to death. He also had the right to bear his wife if she did not act properly. This authority came from nature, and not from law.
Take, for example, the possibility of two brothers fighting . One time the fight becomes brutal and has to be broken up by the father. Although the father does not know all the details of the dispute, whatever he feels the outcome should be is accepted by the boys without an argument. The father had final say in family affairs and disputes.
The fathers and their very autocratic power was to raise children to be obedient. If children were to stray, the father had the right to beat them and could get away with beating them to death. There was a peasant in the Ukraine in the early twentieth century who beat his son continuously until the boy died. The father was taken to court but only had to serve three months in prison. His crime was that he did not raise an obedient son.
Husbands had dominance over their wives. This dominance began on the wedding day when the father of the bride gives the groom a knout. this is a symbol and an actual weapon, showing dominance over the wife.
There are many other examples of the autocratic power that the male had over his family, whether it be the father or the grandfather. Among other things, they were to distribute work tasks, guard family traditions and morals, and represent the household in the village.