Final answer:
A system where men are the primary leaders and hold the majority of power is known as a patriarchal system. It's a form of gender inequality where men have authority across various strata of society, from family to politics. Despite some debate over its continuing existence, evidence suggests patriarchal structures remain influential.
Step-by-step explanation:
A system where men dominate women and any set of social relationships in which men are primary leaders and hold the majority of positions of power is known as a patriarchal system. Patriarchy is a gender ideology deeply rooted in the social fabric and has been prevalent throughout history. It establishes a social system where family resources and decision-making lie predominantly with men, and extends beyond the household, permeating all levels of society from the political to the economic spheres.
In patriarchal societies, men are often the beneficiaries of traditional authority and are more likely to hold roles of authority. According to conflict theory in sociology, society is seen as a struggle for dominance with men considered the dominant group, while women are treated as the subordinate group. Evidence of patriarchal influence is visible in historical social movements such as the Women's Suffrage Movement or current debates over women's reproductive rights.
Despite some claims that patriarchy is no longer a prevailing force in modern society, many social scientists, including anthropologists, argue that forms of gender inequality and the underlying effects of male dominance continue to affect various aspects of people's lives. The opposing concept, that is a society where women would hold equivalent authority, is termed matriarchy, which is much less common and mostly hypothetical.