The family type where inheritance passes from mother to daughter is called:
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 1
The correct answer is Option (1) → Matrilineal family
Option (1) Matrilineal family — Correct. The rules of inheritance decide whether a family is matrilineal or patrilineal: matrilineal societies pass on property from mother to daughter, while patrilineal societies do so from father to son.
Option (2) Matriarchal family — Incorrect. Matriarchy is about authority, not inheritance: a family where women exercise authority and dominance. It has been a theoretical rather than an empirical concept, as no society of this kind has been found.
Option (3) Matrilocal family — Incorrect. Matrilocal is a rule of residence: the newly married couple stays with the woman’s parents. It says where the couple lives, not who inherits.
Option (4) Patriarchal family — Incorrect. A patriarchal family is one where men exercise authority and dominance. It is about power, and it centres on men, not on the mother-to-daughter line.
NCERT (2025-26): “The Diverse Forms of the Family … Studies have shown how diverse family forms are found in different societies. With regard to the rule of residence, some societies are matrilocal in their marriage and family customs while others are patrilocal. In the first case, the newly married couple stays with the woman’s parents, whereas in the second case the couple lives with the man’s parents. With regard to the rules of inheritance, matrilineal societies pass on property from mother to daughter while patrilineal societies do so from father to son. A patriarchal family structure exists where the men exercise authority and dominance, and matriarchy where the women play a similarly dominant role. However, matriarchy – unlike patriarchy – has been a theoretical rather than an empirical concept.…” |