The idea that changed in the Napoleonic Code during the twentieth century is equality for all male citizens. While the Napoleonic Code established principles of equality before the law, it was still rooted in a patriarchal system that favored men over women. Over the twentieth century, many legal reforms in various countries progressed toward greater gender equality and the recognition of women's rights, leading to a shift in how equality was understood and implemented.
The separation of church and state and protection of private property remained relatively consistent principles in legal systems influenced by the Napoleonic Code.