0 a type of society in which women have most of the authority and power, or a society in which property belongs to women and is given to children by women rather than men --
1 a society in which women have most of the authority and power, or a society in which property belongs to women rather than men --
Thus was evidence of the original matriarchy written out of history almost before it was written in.
The first planet he visits has been completely destroyed, the second is a gerontocratic travesty of a democracy, and the third is a repressive matriarchy.
Yet, it is expressed throughout the film by the women that they do not consider their society to be a matriarchy.
There is some debate concerning the terminological delineation between "matrifocality" and "matriarchy".
Segments of society were characterized by matriarchy and matrilineal succession -- which survived well into the 19th century -- cross-cousin marriage, and strong regional identity.
Some advocates complained that the rule had the effect of breaking up marriages and promoting matriarchy (see also single-parent family).
She has also defined "matriarchy" as characterized by the sharing of power equally between the two genders.
Matriarchy is rare in the animal kingdom as a whole but common among lemurs.
