Introduction

Contrary to expectations in matrilineal societies like those found throughout Meghalaya, women continue to face significant barriers to formal economic power and political agency.

Data & Methods

This research draws upon ethnographic data from the communities of Nongriat, Mawphel, and Jaintia Hills in India's northeastern state of Meghalaya. The findings are contextualized through theoretical frameworks examining gendered kinship networks and cultural constraints on women's economic participation.

Key Findings

• Despite matrilineal systems distributing property to daughters, women remain excluded from decision-making positions;

• Cultural norms around male authority in household management persist despite legal reforms;

• Symbolic recognition of women's contributions differs sharply from material inclusion;

• Generational differences reveal evolving but constrained gender dynamics.

Implications

This nuanced analysis demonstrates how deeply entrenched patriarchal assumptions continue to shape economic and political outcomes, even within societies organized along matrilineal lines. The persistence of this 'cultural lag' suggests that legal frameworks alone cannot overcome persistent social constraints.