The Minangs are the world’s largest matrilineal society; properties
such as land and houses are inherited through female lineage. Some scholars
argue that this might have caused the diaspora(Minangkabau, “merantau”) of
Minangkabau males throughout the Maritime Southeast Asia to become schol�ars or to seek fortune as merchants. However, the native Minangkabaus agreed
that this matrilineal culture is indeed the result of (not the reason for) diaspora.
With their men travelling out of the country for unspecified time (with possibil�ity of some of them not returning home), it is only logical to hand the land and
property to those who do not have to leave it: The women. This also ensures the
women’s (meaning: mothers of the future generations’) welfare and hence en�suring their offsprings welfare. Besides, native MinangKabaus argue that “Men
can live anywhere and hence they do not need a house like women do”.
Keywords: Minangkabau People, Matriarchy, Gender Relation (Male and Female)