matriirarchal

Matriarchal societies are social systems where women or female relatives hold positions of authority and power, often mirrored by male subordination. The term was first coined by Sabine Baring-Gould in the 1910s, but it gained popularity in the 1960s with feminist and anthropological research.

In matriarchal societies, women are often the primary maintainers of family, social, and cultural values. Decision-making power, leadership roles, and resources are frequently vested in females, and are often determined by kinship ties, blood lines, and/or individual achievements. Matriarchal systems prioritize community needs, cooperation, and mutual support over individual interests or power.

Examples of societies with matriarchal tendencies include, the Mosuo culture of Tibet, the Minangkabau people of Indonesia, and some Native American tribes, such as the Iroquois Confederacy. These societies often still exist in some form, and have evolved over time through a combination of historical, cultural, and sociological factors.

Critiques of matriarchal systems contend that some societies, while formally matriarchal in name, may actually display forms of male dominance through systemic means, such as female subordination or male silencing of female voices. Conscientious rescarchers emphasize the need for contextual understanding and avoidance of romanticizing the matriarchal label, arguing for prioritizing nuanced descriptions of social practices rather than theoretical names.

As of the mid-2010s, matriarchal systems remain underrepresented in global scholarly discourse, accounting for less than 10 percent of societies illustrated in anthropological literature. Preservation and ongoing scholarly efforts to document the remaining matriarchal societies emphasize the importance of awareness, validation, and a more nuanced sort of engagement.