matrifocaladj.
/ˌmatrᵻˈfəʊkl/, U.S. /ˈˌmætrəˈˌfoʊk(ə)l/, /ˈˌmeɪtrəˈˌfoʊk(ə)l/ Cultural Anthropology.
Having a mother as head of the family or household; based or centred on the mother; designating or relating to a culture or community centred on women.
ΘΚΠ
society > society and the community > kinship or relationship > kinship group > family > [adjective] > relating to a family or household > matriarchal
female-headed1655
matriarchal1841
matricentric1945
matrifocal1952
matral1956
matricentred1956
1952 Internat. Afr. Inst. Memorandum xxvi. 12 These matrifocal cells of the compound family.
1956 R. T. Smith Negro Family Brit. Guiana ix. 221 We maintain that the matri-focal system of domestic relations..can be regarded as the obverse of the marginal nature of the husband–father rôle.
1974 Howard Jrnl. 14 47 We are not convinced that a matrifocal family structure..is unstable or fragile, despite the infrequent presence of the father.
1980 A. Carter in L. Michaels & C. B. Ricks State of Lang. 227 One of the most interesting things about the Rastas..is their emergence as a politico-religious system with a male supremacy platform out of a predominantly matrifocal culture.
1991 N.Y. Rev. Bks. 19 Dec. 52/1 (advt.) The matrifocal, Goddess-centred culture of Neolithic Europe.
Derivatives
matrifoˈcality n.
ΘΚΠ
society > society and the community > kinship or relationship > kinship group > family > [noun] > family dependence on mother
matricentricity1957
matrifocality1969
1969 O. Lewis in D. P. Moynihan On Understanding Poverty vii. 198 Matrifocality, a high incidence of consensual unions, and a high percentage of households headed by women..turn out to be traits of the culture of poverty.
1991 G. Greer Change xvi. 391 In a society where there is still a degree of matrifocality we are not surprised to find positive images of the powerful old woman.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2001; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.1952