Matriarchal
adjective
Related to a system where the mother or oldest woman is the leader of the family, group, or society.
In some matriarchal societies, women make all the major decisions.
Often appears as...
- matriarchal society
- matriarchal family
adjective
Describing a person, usually a woman, who is powerful and controls a family or an organization.
She is the matriarchal figure in our family who keeps everyone in line.
Often appears as...
- matriarchal figure
- matriarchal authority
adjective
Related to a system where the mother or oldest woman is the leader of the family, group, or society.
In some matriarchal societies, women make all the major decisions.
Often appears as...
- matriarchal society
- matriarchal family
adjective
Describing a person, usually a woman, who is powerful and controls a family or an organization.
She is the matriarchal figure in our family who keeps everyone in line.
Often appears as...
- matriarchal figure
- matriarchal authority
Definition 1 of 2
Pro Tip 1/3Cultural Context
Understanding 'matriarchal' involves knowing some cultures really have women as main leaders.
The Minangkabau tribe is known for its matriarchal system.
Pro Tip 2/3Not Dominance
'Matriarchal' doesn't mean women are better than men; it's about leadership roles.
Despite its matriarchal traditions, men and women in the society are considered equals.
Pro Tip 3/3Historical Societies
Many ancient societies were matriarchal, worth exploring for historical context.
Ancient artifacts suggest the society revered goddesses, indicating a possible matriarchal system.
Compare with
ladylikematernalmatronlymotherqueenly
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Video examples
The surprising science...
everyone would end up in the arms of Mama. And so she was a very important figure. And so I don't want to minimize the position of alpha females in the chimpanzee group. And then we have a species that is equally close to us as the chimpanzee, the bonobo. We often forget about the bonobo, but the bonobos have a matriarchal society
Video examples
Introducing a New Baby...
matriarchal female but she is dwarfed by the massive males she looks just like in the poor one in comparison in fact both these males that we've got yeah while huge they almost look like pillars on either side of her protecting her at the moment look at that you've seen these two tall kind of animals they're facing in the
Video examples
The science and...
from foraging indeed in some times when the old partner does not return new partners are acquired even occasionally including same gender partners to help rear the developing chick now what you see here is the birth of a killer whale calf now that calf emerges into a matriarchal society accordingly while
Video examples
Continuing the Fight for...
how do the women take charge yeah so historically i mean our at least in our lakota and our lakota culture women we're decision makers we were a matriarchal society we still are and that has been brought forward through all like the centuries women are the nurturers women are the backbone of
Video examples
Language is the building...
Connecticut my tribe is matriarchal and our stories ways of understanding for my culture affect the way I lead I was taught a worldview without a living language my tribes language like many indigenous languages was brought to the point of extinction by colonialism
Video examples
Safari Live - Day 257 PIPE...
hyena family which of course is a family or on its own and that is because they are the only ones that have this kind of matriarchal society where the females dominate the males and where they live
Video examples
Safari Live - Day 27 PIPE...
gonna chase this this the stork that's actually quite an ask question because very similar to how you know elephant societies are matriarchal in other words the herd that you that we with at the
Video examples
David Gruber: Can we...
These are the sounds of the mighty sperm whale, a fellow mammal that can dive almost a mile, hold its breath for more than an hour and lives in these amazingly complex, matriarchal societies.
Video examples
Watch Wild Predators...
to me the entire social structure is governed by aggression they it's a matriarchal society and because that aggression in these societies a lot of the females have such high levels of
Video examples
Safari Live - Day 154 PIPE...
young women so human beings have a similar I suppose in some cases matriarchal system I don't know about orcas but perhaps it's the same with orcas but otherwise I think it's one of
Video examples
The surprising science...
everyone would end up in the arms of Mama. And so she was a very important figure. And so I don't want to minimize the position of alpha females in the chimpanzee group. And then we have a species that is equally close to us as the chimpanzee, the bonobo. We often forget about the bonobo, but the bonobos have a matriarchal society
Video examples
Introducing a New Baby...
matriarchal female but she is dwarfed by the massive males she looks just like in the poor one in comparison in fact both these males that we've got yeah while huge they almost look like pillars on either side of her protecting her at the moment look at that you've seen these two tall kind of animals they're facing in the
Video examples
The science and...
from foraging indeed in some times when the old partner does not return new partners are acquired even occasionally including same gender partners to help rear the developing chick now what you see here is the birth of a killer whale calf now that calf emerges into a matriarchal society accordingly while
Video examples
Continuing the Fight for...
how do the women take charge yeah so historically i mean our at least in our lakota and our lakota culture women we're decision makers we were a matriarchal society we still are and that has been brought forward through all like the centuries women are the nurturers women are the backbone of
Video examples
Language is the building...
Connecticut my tribe is matriarchal and our stories ways of understanding for my culture affect the way I lead I was taught a worldview without a living language my tribes language like many indigenous languages was brought to the point of extinction by colonialism
Video examples
Safari Live - Day 257 PIPE...
hyena family which of course is a family or on its own and that is because they are the only ones that have this kind of matriarchal society where the females dominate the males and where they live
Video examples
Safari Live - Day 27 PIPE...
gonna chase this this the stork that's actually quite an ask question because very similar to how you know elephant societies are matriarchal in other words the herd that you that we with at the
Video examples
David Gruber: Can we...
These are the sounds of the mighty sperm whale, a fellow mammal that can dive almost a mile, hold its breath for more than an hour and lives in these amazingly complex, matriarchal societies.
Video examples
Watch Wild Predators...
to me the entire social structure is governed by aggression they it's a matriarchal society and because that aggression in these societies a lot of the females have such high levels of
Video examples
Safari Live - Day 154 PIPE...
young women so human beings have a similar I suppose in some cases matriarchal system I don't know about orcas but perhaps it's the same with orcas but otherwise I think it's one of
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Kevin Kwan
Singaporean Novelist
I grew up in a household where there were really, really strong matriarchal characters. I think that's true of many Asian households. People tend to think of Asia as a misogynistic society or a society where men rule. At least in my experience, the women rule the household; the women rule the social scene. The men often become very useless.
Quote examples
Weyes Blood
American Musician
Enya is a very matriarchal musical force. Her music is very feminine and she layers her voice a lot. It leaks into my music secretly on the side. There's a lot of lush layers of my voice hiding in the cracks.
Quote examples
Michael Ball
English Actor
I was very close to my grandmother, Agnes Parry. She was a typical matriarchal leader of the family and the community. People looked up to her and would always go to her for advice and help.
Quote examples
Andy Dunn
American Businessman
The youngest boy in an Indian family has a good life. Growing up in a matriarchal family where my Indian mom's culture was dominant, I experienced this first hand.
Quote examples
Margrethe Vestager
Danish Politician
Elephants are social, thoughtful animals. They live in communities and - I have to say it - in matriarchal societies. They bear no grudge, but they remember well.
Quote examples
Wunmi Mosaku
Nigerian Actress
I come from a very matriarchal family and it's important to me that women are protected and saved and educated and loved and valued.
Quote examples
Bill Bailey
English Comedian
My mother was a classic matriarchal figure. She'd sing round the house and always had music on.
Quote examples
Gok Wan
British Author
I come from quite a heavy matriarchal family, and my older sister was a huge influence on me.
Quote examples
Zeenat Aman
Indian Actress
I came from a matriarchal family, and was always treated as an individual.
Quote examples
Francesca Annis
English Actress
I come from a very hospitable, close, Catholic, matriarchal family.
Quote examples
Kevin Kwan
Singaporean Novelist
I grew up in a household where there were really, really strong matriarchal characters. I think that's true of many Asian households. People tend to think of Asia as a misogynistic society or a society where men rule. At least in my experience, the women rule the household; the women rule the social scene. The men often become very useless.
Quote examples
Weyes Blood
American Musician
Enya is a very matriarchal musical force. Her music is very feminine and she layers her voice a lot. It leaks into my music secretly on the side. There's a lot of lush layers of my voice hiding in the cracks.
Quote examples
Michael Ball
English Actor
I was very close to my grandmother, Agnes Parry. She was a typical matriarchal leader of the family and the community. People looked up to her and would always go to her for advice and help.
Quote examples
Andy Dunn
American Businessman
The youngest boy in an Indian family has a good life. Growing up in a matriarchal family where my Indian mom's culture was dominant, I experienced this first hand.
Quote examples
Margrethe Vestager
Danish Politician
Elephants are social, thoughtful animals. They live in communities and - I have to say it - in matriarchal societies. They bear no grudge, but they remember well.
Quote examples
Wunmi Mosaku
Nigerian Actress
I come from a very matriarchal family and it's important to me that women are protected and saved and educated and loved and valued.
Quote examples
Bill Bailey
English Comedian
My mother was a classic matriarchal figure. She'd sing round the house and always had music on.
Quote examples
Gok Wan
British Author
I come from quite a heavy matriarchal family, and my older sister was a huge influence on me.
Quote examples
Zeenat Aman
Indian Actress
I came from a matriarchal family, and was always treated as an individual.
Quote examples
Francesca Annis
English Actress
I come from a very hospitable, close, Catholic, matriarchal family.
Example 1 of 10
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