Final answer:
In matrilineal societies, children and inheritance belong to the mother's kin, while in patrilineal societies, they are traced through the father's line.
Step-by-step explanation:
In matrilineal societies, children belong to their mother's kin group and inheritance passes through the maternal line. Traditional Native American societies, like the Crow and Cherokee, are examples where kinship and descent are traced through women. On the other hand, in patrilineal societies, descent and familial ties are traced through the father's line. Societies in rural China and India often follow patrilineal descent, where only males carry on the family surname, indicating a more patriarchal structure. Both systems can affect aspects such as residence and inheritance, with females often seen as outsiders in patrilocal systems, and with more communal decision-making evident in matrilineal systems, often involving maternal uncles.