Anthropology
One of the major organizational consequences of matrilineal descent is that it results to the dominance of women while at the same time eradicating the "territorial" nature of males. This important feature of a matrilineal organization is vital, especially in the case of the Mosuo tribe, wherein the absence of territoriality discourages the practice of marriage. That is, women are bound only to their families and not their husbands or male relatives; the dominance of women in the tribe and dependence of males to females creates a matriarchal society instead of a patriarchal one.
The men's role in a matriarchal society is parallel with women's role in a patriarchal society, that is, to aid women in the process of procreation. Apart from his role as a father (but not a husband, as in the context of the Mosuo culture), males also help in daily household chores and to serve as guardians to take care of their sisters'...
They are able to produce children, organize families and support kinship roles primarily because their ability to nurture children and social relationships has enabled them to maintain these tasks. Males assume a minor role in strengthening kinship roles, although they do have their fair share of assuming responsibility of taking care of their female sisters' and relatives' children.
The Mosuo tribe is considered "living fossils" because they characterize the…
