Hey Youtube, Jim here! Welcome to Top 10 Archive! Do you ever wonder what other societies look like?
Not just aliens, though, definitely aliens... but also civilizations that aren’t like ours that are
right here on Earth? Well, today you’re in for a treat. We have 10 amazing societies to teach you
about, all of which have one thing in common, women rule. These Matriarchal societies will
teach you about a new way of life that, who knows, maybe you’ll want to adopt.
But before we get started, why not become an archivist today by clicking that subscribe button
and notification bell so you don't miss out on any future uploads! If you end up enjoying this video,
let us know by giving it a thumbs up and in the comment section, tell us what your perfect
civilization would look like! 10. Mosuo (MOH-so-oh)
Mosuo is a Chinese community mainly in southwest China. They’re located near Lugu Lake by the
Tibetan Himalayas and have a population of about 40,000 people. Can you imagine the landscapes?
With that kind of backdrop, who even has time to fret about who’s in charge? The women seem
to be doing just fine. The Mosuo are a beautiful community and have a tradition of always living
with their “Ah Mi”, or the elder female. This Ah Mi is in charge of the household, its decisions,
the division of labor among family members, and all of the important decision making. Basically,
everyone under her roof lives to help, love, and obey the Ah Mi. Mosuo families tend to trace their
lineage through the female side of the family, and it's not unusual for the father to go unrecorded.
9. Minangkabau These Indonesian people have the largest
matriarchal society in the world. They live in the Sumatra region and have around 8 million members.
Everything in their society gets passed down through the woman’s side. From land ownership
to family names. Legend has it, they used to be a Patriarchal society until a king died and left
behind three wives with three baby sons. His first wife took over, since her son was too young, and
ever since, they figured the women were doing a pretty good job, so they continued the matriarchy.
Women hold down the fort and men often leave the homeland in search of opportunities and education.
8. BriBri Ok,
how cool is the name of this community? They’re also located in Costa Rica and Panama,
so you know they have a beautiful life. In their community, it is only women that can inherit land.
They’re also the ones to prepare the ritual cacao that's used in ceremonies. We still aren’t sure
how many people are in this community but there may be up to 35,000. The legend behind this
society says that a past woman was turned into a cacao tree by a Bribri god and ever since,
only women are allowed to prepare their sacred cacao drink. Men are in charge of singing funeral
songs, and are the only ones allowed to touch the remains of the dead. These men are called Awa and
they start training at 8 years old. 7. Umoja
This Kenyan society gets their name from Swahili, meaning “oneness” or “unity”, which just makes
sense when you’re talking about matriarchal societies. Umoja in Samburu, northern Kenya,
serves also as a refuge for women who are fleeing abuse in patriarchal societies. This village was
started in 1990 and its first members were rape victims of British Soldiers that were temporarily
in Kenya. Now, Umoja is a rescue center for these victims, as well as victims of CGM,
child marriage, and other forms of gender-specific human rights violations. They’re taught how to
make jewelry and sell to tourists in the area. The most interesting part about this society is that
men are banned from entering. 6. Akan
The Akan people of Ghana, an estimated 20 million in population, was built around the matriclan.
From there, Akan people get their identity, their inheritance, their wealth,
and just about anything of importance. The matriclan founders are all female, but men hold
leadership positions within their society. These roles are passed down on the mother’s side.
Women don’t support men and their families, men do, and are not only expected to support
their own, but also those of his female relatives. Expectations, am I right?
5. Garo In the Indian state of Meghalaya,
the Tibeto-Burman speaking people also follow along with trends of our other societies,
passing down properties and political succession on the mother’s side, though only to the daughter
this time. The youngest, not the oldest, is the one who inherits her mother’s property.
This is what we call a matrilineal society, where, like the Akan, women low key rule,
but men, high key rule. Boys leave the house at puberty until they get married,
in which they move into their wife's home. Men also hold the leadership positions, governing
society and managing property, while women own the property, pass down their surname, and they
take care of the children. The youngest daughter, the heiress, has her marriage arranged for her,
but her sisters have a much longer process to face. The groom is expected to run away
from marriage, then her family has to kidnap him and take him to his potential bride’s village,
not just once, but until either the bride gives up or her groom accepts her.
4. Nagovisi This New Guinea society is divided into
two matrilineal parts, which are then divided into matriclans. The women in this society are involved
in leadership, but often work the land entitled to them and take great pride in it. In marriage,
women hold gardening and shared sexuality at equal importance. Marriage isn’t institutionalized,
meaning that if a couple shares sexuality, if he helps her with her garden, if they’re seen
together, they’re as good as married. 3. The Hopi People
This Native American Tribe, who primarily live on the Hopi Reservation in northeastern Arizona,
have over 19,000 members according to the 2010 census. They are a sovereign nation within the
United States and retain autonomy under the Hopi Constitution and Bylaws. Hopi are organized into
matrilineal clans, meaning their genealogy is traced back through the female side.
Children are named by the women of the father's clan, and on the twentieth day of a baby's life,
the women of the paternal clan gather, each woman bringing a name and a gift for the child.
Generally, women are in charge of the home and family matters, while the men are in charge of
agriculture and war. 2. Papua New Guinea
The Trobrianders of Papua New Guinea have specific gender roles. Men go from island to
island looking for political positions of power. Women, in the meantime, are given autonomy via
matrilineal institutions. They hold value and are free to take on roles that men usually take
in society. Anthropologists had the wrong idea about Trobrianders for a long time. Each gender
is trusted with a variety of roles and they’re both quite dominant. Yams play an important part
in their culture, being used for both peace offerings, marriage, and divorce customs.
It is said that the more yams a woman receives at her wedding, the more powerful and rich she is.
1. Khasi Khasi is another
matrilineal and matrilocal culture that's found in India. Like most other societies, children take
the name of their mothers. Daughters also inherit their mother’s riches. Children also live with the
mother’s family, assuring the economic well-being of everyone, whether there is a divorce in the
family or not. A woman could marry many times and her children always stay with her. In fact,
even if the father of a child leaves before they’re born, the child is never “illegitimate”.
Thanks for watching! How many of you think women really rule anyway, regardless of the outward
appearances any of given society? What’s the old saying: “The hand that rocks the cradle rules
the world”? Tell us your thoughts in the comments. Also, be sure to show your support of Top10Archive
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