While history books often spotlight male achievements, a rich tapestry of matriarchal societies exists where women have held significant power and made lasting contributions. Women of influence have existed since the beginning of time, even within the confines of patriarchal cultures. Communities can be found in all corners of the globe, however, where a distinctly feminine-forward way of life is the norm. These matriarchal cultures challenge common assumptions about gender roles and offer alternative ways of organizing society.
What is a Matriarchy?
A matriarchy is a social system where power and authority is held by women and often inheritance and generational lineage is passed down through female family members. It’s not entirely clear if a true and full matriarchy has ever existed anywhere in the world, but this list highlights a few examples of female-dominant civilizations. Some have transcended generations, while others are more newly developed. Regardless of age, matriarchal and matrilineal societies challenge the more familiar patriarchal systems by showing alternative models of governance and social organization.
3 Matriarchal Societies Around the World
The Mosuo of China
Nestled in the Himalayan mountains between China’s Yunnan and Sichuan provinces lives the Mosuo people. The remote community of roughly 40,000 is known as the “Kingdom of Women” and is one of the world’s most well-documented matriarchal societies. Here, women are the heads of households and property and names pass down the female line.
Interestingly, the Muoso partake in non-traditional marital arrangements called a “walking marriage” or “tisese.” Women choose their partners throughout their lifetime, whom they do not cohabitate with, and raise their children in their own homes where uncles play significant roles as caregivers and male figures.
The Minangkabau of Indonesia
The world’s largest matrilineal society of roughly 4 million people is located in West Sumatra, Indonesia. There, the Minangkabau people pass down property, inheritance, and surnames from mother to daughter. Husbands usually move into the wife’s family home, which is a multi-generational abode featuring the distinct buffalo horn-inspired architectural peaks. This central family home is managed by a designated matriarch and co-managed by her daughters and sisters. The Minankabau call their traditions “matriarchate,” and distinguish their lifestyle as being centered around mother’s rights rather than that of female rule.
The Haudenosaunee of North America
Long before America had founding fathers, many Indigenous women of North America held powerful positions as leaders in their respective tribes. Notably, the women of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy (sometimes called the Iroquois) in the northeastern United States held important roles as village managers and Clan Mothers.
Today, matriarchal lineage is still practiced by the Huadenosaunee, though more modern nuclear family structures have been adopted. Their focus on democracy—with its separation of powers, checks and balances, and women’s equal political authority—is said to have influenced the United States Constitution.
The late Grammy-award winning Native American musician Joanne Shenandoah was a member of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy and a talented multi-instrumentalist who led an extensive music career, even performing alongside Neil Young. She recounted the formation of the Haudenosaune and the Five Nations in her 2004 album, Peacemaker’s Journey.
Challenging Gender Norms Elsewhere
Scandinavia
When it comes to Scandinavia, some Indigenous European cultures like the Sami had matriarchal elements, other Norse cultures like that of the Vikings had some complexity to gender roles but very likely more hierarchical and patriarchal. However, today we see elements of, if not matriarchy, gender equality rising in places like Iceland, Sweden, Finland, and Norway.
Scandinavian countries have some of the highest rates of female employment and representation of female leadership at the highest levels of government, as well as some of the world’s most generous parental leave benefits. So, while the heritage of these nations may not be consistently rooted in matriarchal communities, they are taking steps to integrate matriarchal principles into contemporary lifestyles of today. In 1975, Icelandic women famously went on strike, demanding equal rights. Their movement effectively shut down the country and set in motion strides towards more gender equality in the nation’s policies and legislation.
While each of these matriarchal societies differs in origin and development, they share the commonality of giving women a seat at the table in their own unique ways. Understanding other cultures like these helps promote respect among global communities and inspire progress for equality for all.
