User:Oliviajones14/Matriarchy

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20-21st centuries

The Mosou people are an ethnic group in southwest China. They are considered one of the most well-known matriarchal societies, although many scholars assert that they are rather matrilineal. Since the 1970s, the Mosou people have faced significant challenges to the point that “their social structure has begun to erode.” However, as of 2016, the sole heirs in the family are still daughters. One significant challenge occured from 1966-1976 when matrilineal societies were banned during the Cultural Revolution. The second challenge the Mosou have faced since the late 20th century has both benefits and drawbacks. Since 1990, when foreign tourism became permitted, tourists started visiting the Mosou people. As pointed out by the Xinhau News Agency, “tourism has become so profitable that many Mosuo families in the area who have opened their homes have become wealthy.” Although this revived their economy and lifted many out of poverty, it also altered the fabric of their society to have outsiders present who often look down on the Mosou’s cultural practices.  

In 1990, fifteen women fled their homes after being raped by British soldiers and founded Umoja village on an empty piece of land. They formed a safe-haven in rural Samburu County in northern Kenya. Nowadays, 48 women, most of whom who have fled gender-based violence like female genital mutilation, assault, rape, and abusive marriages call Umoja home, living with their children in this all female-village. Many of these women faced stigma in their communities following these attacks and had no choice but to flee. Others sought to escape from the nearby Samburu community, which practices child marriage and female genital mutilation.  In the village, the women practice “collective economic cooperation.” The sons are obligated to move out when they turn eighteen. Not only has the Umoja village protected its members, the members have also done extensive work for gender equity in Kenya. The message of the village has spread outside of Kenya as member “Lolosoli’s passion for gender equity in Kenya has carried her to speak on social justice at the United Nations and to participate in an international women’s rights conference in South Africa.”