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@article{194437,
        author = {Dr Ganta Satyanarayana and Ghanta Yaswanth Sai},
        title = {Lineage, Law and Gender: A Comparative Socio-Legal Study of Patrilineal and Matrilineal Family Systems},
        journal = {International Journal of Innovative Research in Technology},
        year = {2026},
        volume = {12},
        number = {10},
        pages = {3737-3748},
        issn = {2349-6002},
        url = {https://ijirt.org/article?manuscript=194437},
        abstract = {This study provides a comparative socio-legal analysis of patrilineal and matrilineal family systems, focusing on their historical evolution, structural characteristics, and legal implications in India and across the world. Drawing from sociological theory, anthropological evidence, and legal doctrine, the paper examines how lineage, descent, and property rights are distributed within patriarchal and matriarchal social configurations. It explores the cultural underpinnings of gendered authority, tracing patriarchy’s emergence from socio-economic and biological frameworks and counterposing matrilineal societies that emphasize maternal descent and female agency. The research highlights examples from the Khasi and Garo tribes of India, as well as global instances such as the Mosuo of China and Nubian queens of Sudan, to assess the intersection of gender, kinship, and governance. Further, the paper analyzes Indian constitutional provisions, judicial interpretations, and succession laws to understand how legal structures perpetuate or challenge patriarchal dominance. Findings suggest that while true matriarchies are rare, matrilineal and matrilocal systems foster greater gender equity, social cohesion, and women’s health outcomes. The study concludes that dismantling patriarchal hierarchies within family and legal systems is essential to achieving substantive gender justice and that socio-legal reform must integrate indigenous models of female-inclusive governance to ensure equality in both lineage and law.},
        keywords = {Patrilineal and matrilineal family systems, Patriarchy and matriarchy, Gender and, kinship, Property rights and inheritance, Socio legal analysis, Comparative family law, Indigenous governance models, Gender justice},
        month = {March},
        }