Explain the structural tensions faced by men and women in matriarchal societies.

Structural tensions faced by men and women in matriarchal societies -

(i) The matriarchal form of family refers to the “authority and dominance “lying with the woman. However, in reality, it is Matriliny which is seen to exist among the Khasis of Meghalaya.

(ii) The woman inherits the property from her mother but does not exercise control over it; nor are they the decision makers in public affairs. The authority and control go from maternal uncle to nephew and the inheritance from mother to daughter.

(iii) This matriline generates intense role conflict for men because they are torn between the responsibilities of their natal household and that of his wife and children.

(iv) There is an apprehension in the minds of the wife and sister of the man; with regard to his commitment to their welfare.Because she can never be fully assumed that her husband does not find his sister's house a more congenial place than her own similarity, a sister will be apprenhensive about her brother's commitment to her welfare because the wife with whom he lives can always pull him away from his responsibilities to his natal house. Thus, woman possession is only a token authority.