Patriarchy is a system of social organization in which men hold dominant positions in political, economic, religious, and familial institutions, while women and other gender groups occupy subordinate positions. As a mode of gender stratification, patriarchy creates unequal access to power, resources, opportunities, and social recognition based on gender. It is not merely a set of individual attitudes but a structural arrangement embedded in customs, laws, traditions, and cultural beliefs that sustain male dominance across generations. Gender stratification refers to the unequal distribution of rights, responsibilities, privileges, and rewards between men and women in society. Patriarchy is one of the primary mechanisms through which this inequality is institutionalized. It assigns different social roles to men and women, often valuing masculine roles more highly than feminine ones. Men are generally associated with authority, leadership, and economic production, whereas women are expected to perform caregiving, domestic work, and reproductive functions. Sociologists and feminist scholars have explained patriarchy from different perspectives. Sylvia Walby defines patriarchy as a system of social structures and practices in which men dominate, oppress, and exploit women. She identifies six interconnected structures of patriarchy: household production, paid employment, the state, male violence, sexuality, and cultural institutions. These structures reinforce one another, making gender inequality a persistent feature of society. The family is a key institution through which patriarchal values are transmitted. In many societies, inheritance, family name, and property rights are passed through the male line. Decision-making authority is often concentrated in the hands of fathers or husbands, while women are expected to remain economically dependent. Gender socialization begins in childhood, where boys are encouraged to be