Sistim Kekerabatan Matrilinial di Minagkabau
Sistem kekerabatan matrilineal merupakan salah satu sistem kekerabatan universal yang mengatur tata nilai dan struktur kekeluargaan menurut garis keturunan ibu. Sistem matrilineal menempatkan kedudukan perempuan seimbang dengan kedudukan laki-laki. Sistem ini mengatur hak dan kewajiban anggota kaum terutama dalam kaitan pewarisan dan harta pusaka. Harta pusaka di Minangkabau diwariskan menurut garis keturunan ibu, dimana perempuan diprioritaskan memanfaatkan harta pusaka, sedangkan laki-laki sebagai pemelihara dan pelindung. Kesetaraan gender dalam sistem matrilineal sudah mendapat pengakuan dan diimplementasikan dalam kehidupan masyarakat Minangkabau. Ciri-ciri masyarakat matrilineal minangkabau antara lain : Keturunan dan suku menurut garis keturunan ibu, perkawinan harus dengan suku lain (eksogami, tabu kawin sesuku), perempuan sebagai penerima warisan, sifat perkawinan Matrilokal (suami pulang kerumah isteri).
Matrilineal family system is one of universal family system which also called Matrilineality. It is a system in which descent is traced through the mother and maternal ancestors. Matrilineality is also a societal system in which one belongs to one’s matriline or mother’s lineage, which can involve the inheritance of property and/or titles. A matriline is a line of descent from a female ancestor to a descendant (of either sex) in which the individuals in all intervening generations are mothers – a mother line. In the Minangkabau matrilineal clan culture in Indonesia, a person’s clan name is important in their marriage and their other cultural-related events. Two totally unrelated people who share the same clan name can never be married because they are considered to be from the same clan mother (unless they come from distant villages). Males in Minangkabau matrilineal system play an important legal role as guardian and protector. As in all matrilineal systems, in Minangkabau the husband lives in his in law house and all property are transmitted through female.