Matriarchies That Kicked Ass Throughout History
You may wonder why I chose to put matriarch in my business name, other than obviously representing women-owned. When you hear the word matriarchy, what comes to mind? Do you think of a world dominated by powerful women, or do you automatically assume it’s the same ol’ patriarchy with a twist? Contrary to popular belief, matriarchy is an ancient form of governance that has been practiced in many societies around the world. Since it’s Women’s History Month, I’ve been thinking a lot about our history as women, and of historical matriarchies. Let’s take a look at some of the most successful matriarchies in history and how they shaped their respective cultures.
The Sitones (Suevi) of Scandinavia
Get ready to break down the patriarchy and raise your fists because, way back in 1BC, some of our ancestors were living it up! The Sitones (or Suevi) tribe was located somewhere near Scandinavia & according to Tacitus they "resembled Suiones - except for one small detail". That difference? Women ruled the land. We don't know much about this bad-ass squad but we do know that there is a good chance these fierce female leaders are responsible for ancestral roots lying below many Swedes today! Yaaaaas Queen 👑!
The Mosuo Culture of China
The Mosuo are an ethnic group native to southwestern China who have practiced a form of matrilineal social structure for centuries. What sets them apart from other matrilineal societies is their unique marriage customs—or lack thereof. Unlike more traditional societies where couples commit to one another through marriage, the Mosuo practice “walking marriages.” In these unions, men and women are free to come and go as they please without any legal obligations or strings attached. This freedom has enabled Mosuo women to become leaders in their communities and even own businesses—a rarity for women in much of the rest of China centuries ago.
The Minangkabau People of Indonesia
The Minangkabau people are arguably one of the oldest matrilineal societies in existence today. Located primarily in West Sumatra, this society traces its roots back over 1,000 years and has long been considered a beacon for female empowerment. In this culture, both men and women can inherit property as well as serve as leaders within their respective clans—a distinct contrast to many other parts of Indonesia where men traditionally control land ownership and decision-making processes. The Minangkabau have also long held a strong belief that education is essential for all members of society, regardless of gender—an idea that was far ahead of its time centuries ago.
The Akan People Of Ghana And Cote D'Ivoir
Located along the south coast of West Africa, the Akan people have practiced matrilineal social structures since before European colonization began in earnest during the 16th century. In this culture, lineage is traced through one's mother rather than father as is common with most patrilineal societies. Women thus play an important role in Akan society not only because they control land ownership but also because they are responsible for educating and providing guidance to younger generations within their families and communities. Moreover, all major decisions relating to property rights must be approved by both men and women before being put into effect—a practice that has helped forge strong bonds between genders throughout Akan history.
In Conclusion: Can we revive more matriarchies in our modern world?
Matriarchies have been around since antiquity but often get overlooked when discussing historical governance systems due to patriarchal dominance over certain regions (looking at you Europe). However, despite being marginalized throughout much of history, matrilineal societies still exist today--from Scandinavia’s Sitones to China's Mosuo culture to West Africa's Akan people--showing us just how powerful female leadership can be when given proper opportunity and support! With all that is happening politically in the world today… hopefully this blog will help inspire current Gen-Zers and Millennials to continue advocating for female leadership roles throughout our own communities!
Sources: historythings.com; wikimedia; wikipedia; brides.com.
More babblings…
Celebrating Women’s History Month, our second blog in Bad Bitch Babblings is titled: Matriarchies that kicked ass throughout history. In this blog post, let’s take a look at some of the most successful matriarchies in history and how they shaped their respective cultures. Can we collectively revive more matriarchies in our modern world?