Matriarchy

A matriarchy is a tradition (and by extension a form of government) in which community power lies with the women or mothers of a community. The word matriarchy derives from the Latin word mater meaning mother and the Greek word archein meaning to rule.

Related Topics:
Government - Women - Mother - Latin - Greek

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Matriarchy is distinct from matrilineality, where children are identified in terms of their mother rather than their father, and extended families and tribal alliances form along female blood-lines. Matriarchy is sometimes extended to refer to "government by women", although this is more technically termed gynocracy.

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Matriarchy is also distinct from matrifocality, which some anthropologists use to describe societies where maternal authority is prominent in domestic relations.

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