Final answer:
The system of descent traced through the female line is called matrilineal descent, which allows both males and females to trace their lineage through their female ancestors and is associated with inheritance of property and status through the maternal line.
Step-by-step explanation:
The system of descent in which kinship is traced through the female line is called matrilineal (or uterine) descent. In this system, both males and females trace their descent solely through their female ancestors, meaning that males hold their mother's matrilineal descent, and females pass on this descent to their offspring. Matrilineal descent places importance on the relationships within the mother's family, and often inheritance, status, and clan affiliation are also passed through the female line. It offers a clear line of kinship, as maternity can be certain, which assures clan affiliation and lineage continuity.
Matrilineal descent is contrasted with other forms of descent such as patrilineal, bilateral, and ambilineal descent. Patrilineal (or agnatic) descent traces the lineage through male ancestors, while bilateral descent traces kinship through both mother's and father's lines. Ambilineal descent allows a choice in tracing lineage either through the mother or the father, varying by each family.