Patriarchy is a social system where males hold primary power and predominate in roles of political leadership, moral authority, social privilege and control of property. It is characterized by the strict definition of gender roles, with men typically being viewed as superior to women. Patriarchy has existed globally for thousands of years and continues to negatively impact both women and men through the enforcement of traditional gender norms and an imbalance of power. Combating patriarchy requires challenging these deep-rooted social and cultural norms.