Final answer:
Patriarchy is a system of social inequality based on gender where men dominate and control various aspects of society, including social, cultural, political, and economic areas. Women are often marginalized and denied equality.
Step-by-step explanation:
Patriarchy is a system of social inequality based on gender where power is assumed to be in the hands of men, and characteristics associated with femininity are less valued. It is a widespread gender ideology that positions men as rulers of private and public life, dominating social, cultural, political, and economic areas of global societies. Women are often marginalized and have historically been denied equality in society.
In modern contexts, such as American and European societies, the development of capitalism in the 1600s further intensified the division between the public and private spheres, with women being confined to the private sphere of family life and men engaging in the public sphere of economic and political activities. Despite progress, patriarchy remains a significant force, shaping the lives and opportunities of men and women differently.