Monasteries are religious communities of people who live together and follow a set of rules. They are typically led by an abbot or abbess, and can be either male or female. Friaries are a type of monastery that is specifically associated with the Franciscan order of the Catholic Church. Abbeys are another type of monastery, usually associated with the Benedictine order of the Catholic Church. Both friaries and abbeys are considered monasteries, but they have different traditions and practices.