I hope I spelled everything right.
So what is your opinion? We have works in progress in different parts of the world where women have the dominate role in society what do Acheaologist and Anthropologist tell us.
Here is a site that gives some info about the Minangkabau of Indonesia, a matriachial society that is in operation today:
http://www.upennmuseum.com/pressreleases/forum.pl?msg=92
The emphasis on nurturing growth, she asserts, yields a
unique emphasis on the maternal in daily life. "While we in
the West glorify male dominance and competition, the
Minangkabau glorify their mythical Queen Mother and
cooperation," said Dr. Sanday. In village social relations
women are likened to "the center where the fish net meets."
Senior women are associated with the central pillar of the
traditional house, which is the oldest pillar because it is
the first erected. The oldest village in a group of
villages is referred to as the "mother village." When they
stage ceremonies in their full ceremonial regalia, women are
addressed by the same term reserved for the mythical Queen.
Such practices suggest that matriarchy in this society is
about making the maternal the center, origin, and
foundation, not just of life but of the social order as
well.
The power of Minangkabau women extends to the economic and
social realms. Women control land inheritance and husbands
move into the households of their wives. Unlike many other
societies in which anthropologists say women are exchanged
between families at marriage, in this society men are
exchanged. During the wedding ceremony the wife collects
her husband from his household and, with her female
relatives, brings him back to her household to live. In the
event of a divorce the husband collects his clothes and
leaves.
Yet, despite the special position women are accorded in the
society, the Minangkabau matriarchy is not the equivalent of
female rule.
"Neither male nor female rule is possible because of the
Minangkabau belief that decision-making should be by
consensus," Dr. Sanday said. "In answer to my persistent
questions about 'who rules,' I was often told that I was
asking the wrong question. Neither sex rules, it was
explained to me, because males and females complement one
another. As with everything else, the Minangkabau have a
proverb to describe the partnership relationship between the
sexes: 'Like the skin and nail of the fingertip.'"
Islam and the Minangkabau
Today, according to Dr. Sanday, while the Minangkabau
matriarchy is based largely on adat, Islam also plays
a role--but not in the way one might expect. Islam arrived
in West Sumatra sometime in the 16th century, long after
adat customs and philosophy had been established. At first
there was an uneasy relationship between adat and
Islam and, in the l9th century, a war between adherents of
adat customs and fundamentalist beliefs imported from Mecca.
The conflict was resolved by both sides making
accommodations. Today, matrilineal adat and Islam
are accepted as equally sacred and inviolate, handed down
from the godhead. "At a time when consumerism is more
prevalent in Indonesia than ever before, these sacred
principles of Minangkabau culture and society act to support
one another," she noted.