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Letter: On matrilineal cultures and matriarchies

Published 20 August 2025

From James Fradgley, Wimborne, Dorset, UK

In connection with matrilineal societies, I saw an interesting variant in Vanuatu. Basically, young men and women relate to their mother and her siblings. You might think this would lead to some sort of matriarchy, but that appears not to be the case(2 August, p 40).

For example, the making and drinking of kava, a potent brew, is definitely a men-only activity, as are some others. As the article notes, real life is always more complicated than we anticipate.

Issue no. 3557 published 23 August 2025

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