The document outlines the concept of matriarchy, defining it as a social organization where females, particularly mothers, hold primary power. It provides examples of existing matriarchal societies, including the Minangkabau, Masuo, Akan, Bribri, and Garo, detailing their cultural characteristics and societal operations. The document concludes with a provocative question regarding the potential impact of women's leadership on the world.

1. THE MATRIARCHAL
SOCIETIES
FAWAD AHMED JAMALI
REG # 1311130
B.B.A 4B

2. OUTLINE…
 WHAT IS MATRIARCHY?
INTER-LINKED TERMS
 MATRIARCHAL SOCITIES
 SOCIETY OPERATIONS
 DIFFERING VALUES/NORMS
 DISCUSSION POINT

3. MATRIARCHY???
 A form of social organization in which the mother or
the oldest female heads the family.
 Descents and relationships are determined through
female line.
OR
 A social system organized around the principle of
mother-rule in which mothers, or females are at the
top of the power structure.
“The opposite of matriarchy is patriarchy”

4. INTER-LINKED
TERMS
 Matrilineal
 Matrifocal
 Matricentric

5. LIST OF EXISTING MATRIARCHAL
SOCIETIES
 Minangkabau
 Masuo
 Akan
 Bribri
 Garo

6. MINANGKABAU
• Indigenous to the Minangkabau highlands of
Western Sumatra in Indonesia
• Strongly Muslims but also follow “adat”
• The culture is partly matrilineal
• Numbers around 8 million

7. MINANG CULTURE
• Property is inherited through female lineage unit
• Boys leave their houses as early as the age of 7 to
live in “Surau”
• Man to wait until a marriage proposal is received
from some young woman’s family
• Husbands having visitor status
• Maternal home considered ideal for married
sisters

8. MASUO
• Also known as “Na”
• Yunnan and Sichuan provinces of China
• Numbers around 40000
• Linkage with Buddhism, Taoism

9. MASUO CULTURAL HIGHLIGHTS
• Women being head of the family, heir to the
property and business decision maker
• Barter-based system
• Preserved pork for upto 10 years
• Men and women role
• Walking marriages

10. AKAN
• Ghana and Ivory Coast
• Number around 20 million, but only half of them
follow matrilineal customs
• Mainly Christians
• Minority follow Islam, Akan religion and Atheism

11. AKAN CULTURAL HIGHLIGHTS
• Famous for gold weights
• Clan-based system
• Marriage with mutual agreement
• Initially engaged in slave trade

12. BRIBRI
• Indigenous people of Talamanca region, Costa Rica
• Numbers around 12000
• Bribri and Spanish language
• Organized into clans

13. BRIBRI CUTURAL HIGHLIGHTS
• Men and women roles
• Preparation of cacao
• Beliefs regarding ailment
• Iguana farming

14. GARO
• Indigenous people of Meghalaya, India and
neighboring areas of Bangladesh
• Call themselves A-Chik/Manda
• Mainly Christians
• Population around 1 million

15. GARO CULTURAL HIGHLIGHTS
• Youngest daughter inherits property
• Boys sent into bachelor’s dormitory
• Marriage is cross-cultural
• Food is simple, not spicy
• House is multi-attribute

16. WHAT IF….
WHAT, IN YOUR OPINION, WOULD THE WORLD
WOULD HAVE LIKED IF WE HAD WOMEN IN
POWER???