Final answer:
A woman taking her husband's last name at marriage reflects a patrilineal descent system, wherein descent is traced through male ancestors. Patrilocal residence often accompanies this system, emphasizing the husband's family. Matrilineal descent, however, traces inheritance and family ties through the female line.
Step-by-step explanation:
At marriage, a woman taking her husband's last name reflects a patrilineal descent system. In such systems, both males and females trace their descent solely through male ancestors. This is common in many societies, including parts of rural China and India, and even in aspects of U.S. society where most children assume their father's last name. The patrilineal system bestows males with the prestige of permanent family membership while females are often seen as temporary members until they marry and take their husband's surname.
By contrast, matrilineal descent traces inheritance and family ties through women. Societies with matrilineal descent, such as the Crow and Cherokee tribes of Native Americans, view children as belonging to the women, which means kinship is traced through the maternal line. In these societies, familial relations, property, status, and clan affiliation are all conferred through the female line.
Additionally, residential practices such as patrilocal residence, where it is customary for a wife to live with or near her husband's family, often accompany patrilineal descent systems. These practices emphasize the husband's side of the family and can sometimes place women at a disadvantage by making them outsiders in the home and community.