Anthropology, Economy & Society S.
1 total work
Why are the Minangkabau at the same time a matrilinear and Islamic society? This question is one of the strongest formulations of the "matrilinear puzzle," which maintains that matriliny is an "impossible" social structure. The author shows that the paradox of an Islamic matrilinear society is made possible by the combination of an extreme gender division and of balanced gender relations.