Patriarchy is a social system in which positions of authority are primarily held by men. The term patriarchy is used both in anthropology to describe a family or clan controlled by the father or eldest male or group of males, and in feminist theory to describe a broader social structure in which men as a group dominate society. [1][2][3] Sociologists generally contend that socialization processes are primarily responsible for establishing gender roles, [4] and that gender roles and gender ... Patriarchal definition: of or relating to a patriarch, the male head of a family, tribe, community, church, order, etc... See examples of PATRIARCHAL used in a sentence. PATRIARCHY definition: 1. a society in which the oldest male is the leader of the family, or a society controlled by men…. Learn more. A patriarchal system is one run by men. Traditionally, most societies have been patriarchal, but it's now considered sexist and unfair.