Abstract:

The theory of matriarchal authority can not be derived from the matrilineal system. Although the "affection of mother and child" had a certain social meaning, its social position was never simply possessed by the matrilineal system alone. Those who advocated the matriarchal authority ignored such a relevant fact: even if there was a certain difficulty for clearly identifying the blood relationship with father, the primitive mother would still seek to designate a "father" so as to guard and educate children with the help of male. Moreover, the matrilineal system was not a matriarchal system. The social role of older female was merely confined to family. The group authority was still exerted by men. Those female physiological advantages such as childbearing and child nursing, from the beginning, were meanwhile a kind of potential "disadvantages". Women had to give up their opportunities of "equally competing" with men.

Key words: the matriarchal system, question