Final answer:
Matrilineal and patrilineal descent systems influence family structures and relationships in society by determining how familial relations and inheritance are passed down. In matrilineal systems, kinship is traced through the mother, while in patrilineal systems, it is traced through the father. These different systems affect the roles of male and female figures within the family, as well as the distribution of power and resources within society.
Step-by-step explanation:
Matrilineal and patrilineal descent systems have a significant influence on family structures and relationships within a society. In a matrilineal descent system, familial relations are focused on the mother's family, with property, status, and clan affiliation being passed down through the female line. This means that a person's most important relations are their mother's parents and siblings, and inheritance is traced through the mother. For example, in Native American societies like the Crow and Cherokee tribes, kinship is traced through the mother, and children are seen as belonging to the women.
In contrast, in a patrilineal descent system, familial relations emphasize the father's family. Inheritance and clan affiliation are passed down through the male line, and a person's most important relations are their father's parents and siblings. This system is commonly found in societies like rural China and India, where only males carry on the family surname and hold permanent family membership. For instance, in patrilineal societies, children assume their father's last name.
These different descent systems impact family structures and relationships. In matrilineal societies, emphasis is placed on the maternal line, and children look to their mother's brother as an important male figure rather than their father. In patrilineal societies, the focus is on the father's family, and patrilocal residence is common, where the wife lives with or near her husband's blood relatives. These systems allocate power, influence, and resources differently within the family and society as a whole.