Choose the statement, that describes a 'matrilineal society' :
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 4
The correct answer is Option (4) → Societies where women inherit property from their mothers
Option (1) Societies where women exercise dominance — Incorrect. A society where women exercise dominance would be a matriarchy, not a matrilineal society. Matriarchy has been a theoretical rather than an empirical concept: there is no historical or anthropological evidence of it.
Option (2) Societies where the newly married couple stays with man's parents — Incorrect. This is the rule of residence called patrilocal. In a matrilocal society the couple stays with the woman’s parents; neither is a rule of inheritance.
Option (3) Societies where women are decision makers in public affairs — Incorrect. Women in matrilineal societies inherit property but are not the decision makers in public affairs.
Option (4) Societies where women inherit property from their mothers — Correct. ‘Matrilineal’ refers to the rule of inheritance: matrilineal societies pass on property from mother to daughter. In such societies women inherit property from their mothers, but they do not exercise control over it.
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. There is no historical or anthropological evidence of matriarchy – i.e., societies where women exercise dominance. However, there do exist matrilineal societies, i.e., societies where women inherit property from their mothers but do not exercise control over it, nor are they the decision makers in public affairs.” |