Final answer:
In matrilineal societies, as noted by Alice Schlegel, authority typically lies with a woman's brother or maternal uncle, not her husband, with societal structures emphasizing maternal lineage for family ties and inheritance.
Step-by-step explanation:
According to Alice Schlegel, in matrilineal societies, the authority figure is not a woman's husband, but rather her brother or her mother's brother (maternal uncle). These senior males are responsible for making decisions about family resources and disciplining behavior within the family. This stems from the cultural significance of matrilineality, where inheritance, property, and clan affiliations are passed through the female line, ensuring lineage is traced to women, with a mother's lineage being unequivocal compared to that of a father.
Matrilineal descent in Native American societies like the Crow and Cherokee is a prominent example where children belong to their mother's kin group. Even in these systems, while clan affiliation is clear and female-centric, leadership roles remain predominantly in the hands of men, reflecting a differentiation between matrilineality and actual matriarchy. Moreover, the emphasis on familial relationships and inheritance through the maternal line often influences residence patterns, such as in matrilocal systems.