matriarchal

Matriarchal refers to social systems in which women, particularly mothers or elder female figures, hold primary power in political leadership, moral authority, social privilege, and property control. In practice, strict matriarchies—where women rule over men in all domains—are considered rare by most anthropologists. More commonly discussed are related concepts such as matrilineality (descent through the female line), matrilocality (residence with the wife’s family), and matrifocality (households centered on women), which describe kinship and residence patterns that can accompany significant female influence without a universal gendered hierarchy.

Etymology of the term traces to the Greek roots matri- meaning mother and arche meaning rule or government. The concept has been explored in feminist theory, anthropology, and popular discourse, often to describe societies with heightened female influence in kinship, inheritance, or social organization, even if political power is not exclusively held by women.

Debate surrounds the existence and scope of true matriarchies. Some scholars contend there are no societies in which women dominate all spheres, while others point to communities with strong female authority in certain domains, such as clan governance, religious leadership, or household economy. Notable discussions frequently cite matrilineal and matrilocal societies (e.g., certain Southeast Asian, Indigenous North American groups) to illustrate how gendered power can be structured differently from patriarchal models.

See also: matrilineality, matrilocality, matrifocality, patriarchy, gender roles.