Final answer:
The status of women is generally higher in societies with matrilineal descent than in those with patrilineal descent, as matrilineal systems trace inheritance and family ties through women and give them a more permanent and prominent role in the society.
Step-by-step explanation:
In general, the status of women is higher in societies with matrilineal descent than in those with patrilineal descent. Matrilineal societies include certain Native American tribes, such as the Crow and the Cherokee, where children's kinship and inheritance are traced through female ancestors. In contrast, in patrilineal societies, such as those in rural China and India, only males carry on the family surname, rendering males permanent members of the family and females only temporary members.
Matrilineal descent patterns ensure that property, status, and clan affiliation are conferred through the female line, with maternal relationships being given significant importance. This contrasts with patrilineal descent, where familial relations focus on the father's lineage. Ambilineal societies, most common in Southeast Asian countries, offer a more flexible system where descent can be traced through either parent, based on various factors like prestige or cultural customs.