article

Khmer kinship: the matriliny/matriarchy myth

Journal of anthropological research51 (3) • Published In 1995 • Pages: 247-261

By: Ledgerwood, Judy.

Abstract
This document argues against early ethnographic claims that Khmer society in the distance past was organized along matrilineal principles. It shows that this claim was the product of evolutionary paradigms that sought to reconstruct the history of Khmer by drawing only on the geneological records of priestly families and lineages of sucessive kings. By shifting the focus of analysis on broadly used kinship terminologies and social relations among ordinary people, the document demonstrates that Khmer kinship system was not matrilineal at all. It was instead a very flexible system that assumed many patterns over the years. In doing so, the documents also deconstructs earlier workers which claimed that women in Khmer society wielded more power than men in decision making.
Subjects
Historical reconstruction
Cultural identity and pride
Rule of descent
Kin relationships
Gender status
Division of labor by gender
Prophets and ascetics
Lineages
Kinship terminology
Residence
Family relationships
Marriage
Real property
Inheritance
Bilineal kin groups
Kindreds and ramages
External relations
culture
Cambodians
HRAF PubDate
2012
Region
Asia
Sub Region
Southeast Asia
Document Type
article
Evaluation
Creator Type
Anthropologist
Document Rating
4: Excellent Secondary Data
5: Excellent Primary Data
Analyst
Teferi Abate Adem; 2012
Field Date
1991
Coverage Date
1950-1995
Coverage Place
Cambodia
Notes
Judy L. Ledgerwood
Includes bibliographical references (p. 259-261)
LCCN
73645054
LCSH
Khmers