Family Roles in Gambia

Since my family is big and confusing and I don't know the language, it is difficult to understand the dynamics of their behavior but there is a clear separation between male and female roles.
Men. They are the head of the household, and expected to provide for the wife and kids. They make the decisions and have control over most of the money. They work in the fields and grow cash crops such as peanuts (groundnuts). They also do all the "hard labor" work such as constructions, fencing, land clearing, and road repair, and they also care for the cattle (Remember, I live with the Fula people, the cattle herders).
Women. Many claim the women work much harder than the men. They run the house; they sweep, cook, clean, collect firewood, fetch water and care for the kids. They work in the rice fiedlds, collect leaves for sauces, and garden. Women keep their own money if they make any selling vegetables, bananas or doing small jobs.
Small Boys. They are the messengers or errand runners. They get things for their parents or family friends such as water, firewood, leaves or coos. They "do whatever they are told". They also are a big help to Peace Corps volunteers because they are full of enthusiasm and ready to help with any project.
Here kids do what they are told. When told by a parent to stop doing something, they stop immediately. This probably comes from the fact that parents hit or beat their kids. Western thought is making beatings less common, but I hear it still occurs. My village has many young kids and babies. I expected to hear them cry more often, but it is rare to hear a kid cry; parents do not baby them. Older kids, even slightly older, have authority over younger ones. When an older kid says stop, they younger ones will listen. There is a hierarchy by age.