Women's inequality exists at all levels of Canadian society. The “unequal distribution of power, wealth and privilege between men and women,” or gender stratification (Macionis, Jansson & Benoit, 2009, p. 256), has created a patriarchal system entrenched in Canadian society. This system gives men greater power and privileges than women (Hiller, 2006). Disparities in opportunities between Canadian women and men have gone beyond the usual contexts (workplace, family and/or politics); It is in the Canadian prison system that gender inequality is most visible (Dell, Fillmore, & Kilty, 2009). It is a fact that in all societies women receive stricter normative control than men, reinforcing patriarchal domination of the world as a whole (Macionis et al., 2006). In a penal system originally designed to punish male offenders, women are constantly reminded of their expected role in society; that is, of a submissive and passive individual (Parkes & Pate 2006). This article argues that the Canadian penal system is designed to preserve men's dominance over women by directly influencing the conditions of female prisoners. In fact, patriarchy is so ingrained in Canadian society that it influences the entire incarceration process. The existence of patriarchy in the process of women's imprisonment shapes their expected behavior as women and prisoners; creates an acceptable definition of crime in which women are excluded or sensationalized; it weakens their ability to overcome abuse throughout the penal system and deteriorates social programs that could help improve their time in prison (Dell et al., 2009; Parkes & Pate, 2006; Pollar & Brezina, 2006). Canada is usually perceived by the international community as a country...... middle of document......70(03), 1041-1041.Macionis JJ, Jansson SM & Benoit CM (2009). Society: the basics. Toronto, Ontario. Prentice Hall Monster, M., & Micucci, A. (2005). Meeting rehabilitation needs in a Canadian women's correctional centre. The Prison Journal, 85(2), 168-185. Parkes, D., & Pate, K. (2006). It's time for responsibility: effective control of women's prisons. Canadian Journal of Criminology and Criminal Justice/Revue Canadienne De Criminologie Et De Justice Penale, 48(2), 251-285. Pollack, S., & Brezina, K. (2006). Negotiating Contradictions: Sexual Abuse Counseling with Incarcerated Women. Women and Therapy, 29(3-4), 117-133.Yuen, F. (2009). Walking the Red Road: Women's experiences in healing, empowerment and recreation have been federally condemned by Aboriginal people. Dissertation Abstracts International, A: Humanities and Social Sciences, 69(11), 4479-4479..