Matrilineal descent refers to the recognition of descent through
a) both the father and mother’s lines.
b) the father’s line only.
c) through only the females in the father’s family line.
d) the mother’s line only.
The correct answer and explanation is :
Correct Answer: d) the mother’s line only.
Explanation:
Matrilineal descent is a system of lineage in which an individual’s family membership and inheritance rights are traced through the mother’s line only. This form of descent emphasizes the maternal line as the primary route for transferring family names, property, and social identity, as opposed to patrilineal descent which follows the father’s line.
In matrilineal societies, a person belongs to their mother’s lineage, and this maternal line determines their kinship ties, clan membership, and sometimes social status. For example, in such societies, a child’s maternal uncle (the mother’s brother) often plays a more prominent role in the child’s upbringing and inheritance than the biological father. This is because the maternal uncle belongs to the same matrilineal group as the child, while the father does not.
Matrilineal descent is found in various cultures around the world. Prominent examples include the Minangkabau people of Indonesia, the Akan people of Ghana, and some Native American tribes such as the Hopi and Navajo. These societies often empower women with significant control over household decisions and property rights. However, matrilineal does not mean matriarchal. Even in matrilineal systems, men often hold positions of political authority, but their legitimacy and roles are defined through their maternal lineage.
The concept of matrilineality challenges many Western assumptions that descent is naturally traced through the father. It reveals the cultural flexibility in how societies construct family, inheritance, and authority. In anthropological studies, understanding systems like matrilineal descent helps scholars appreciate the diversity in human social organization.
Therefore, the correct answer is (d) the mother’s line only, as matrilineal descent specifically recognizes lineage, inheritance, and kinship through the female line. This distinction plays a crucial role in the structure and functioning of societies where it is practiced.