Peter does not instruct wives (literally women) to be subject to any or all “men” (the literal meaning of the word Peter uses) but only to their “own” man (husband). While God has entrusted leadership to men in society/life as a whole (Genesis 2:15) and created the woman to be a helper to the man in carrying out that role (Genesis 2:18), Peter knows that God has never ordained that women should “be subject” to any man on the street but only to her “own” man. As marriage is not limited to the home but characterizes conduct at social events, religious activities, etc., so Peter wants the wives he addresses to be subject to their own husbands all the time.
1 Likewise, wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that even if some do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives,