How did law codes reflect existing hierarchies?

Law codes often mirrored existing social hierarchies by establishing different rights and responsibilities based on class, gender, or status. For instance, many ancient codes, such as the Code of Hammurabi, contained provisions that favored the elite and imposed harsher penalties on lower classes. Additionally, laws could institutionalize gender roles, with women often having fewer rights and protections than men. This alignment of law with societal structures reinforced and perpetuated existing inequalities.