nonmatriarchal

Nonmatriarchal refers to a society or social system that is not organized around the principle of matriarchy. Matriarchy is a social system where descent and inheritance are traced through the female line, and women, particularly mothers, hold primary positions of power and authority. Therefore, a nonmatriarchal system is one where this specific structure is absent.

In a nonmatriarchal society, power and authority might be distributed differently. This could include patriarchal systems, where men hold primary power, or egalitarian systems, where power is shared more equally between genders. It could also encompass systems where gender is not the primary organizing principle for power or social structure. The term "nonmatriarchal" is used to distinguish from matriarchal arrangements and does not inherently define what form of social organization is in place, only that it is not matriarchal.

The concept is important in anthropological and sociological studies that examine different forms of social organization, kinship systems, and power dynamics across various cultures and historical periods. Understanding what constitutes matriarchy helps in identifying and categorizing societies that do not follow this specific model. It is a descriptive term, focusing on the absence of a particular social structure.