The western part of the island of Sumatra (Indonesia) is inhabited by an unusual nation that has gained fame thanks to its matriarchal customs. Minangkabau is a strange people who consider themselves the descendants of the son of Alexander of Macedon.
Eligible Husbands
At the center of society is a woman who owns all the property. And even inheritance takes place along the female line. But the men here are not respected. The marriage proposal comes from the family of the bride, not the groom. Young men are taken from their home to a stranger, where they have no rights. The parents of the future wife themselves determine the size of the kalym, which depends on the level of education of the young man and his profession.
On the day of the wedding, nikah is performed - the Muslim ceremony of marriage. A married woman is vested with various powers. She becomes the head of the family, who is responsible for property issues and resolves conflict situations.
But the Minangkabau men must earn good money in order to provide for their wife and children. Therefore, many people leave the villages, but even when they return home with a wallet full of money, few people are interested in their opinion. They still have no voting rights.
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Spouse - “alien”
The family home is designed for several families, and each of them has its own hearth. Everyone is commanded by a woman - a full-fledged mistress of the home. As soon as her daughters grow up, they have the right to their room, where they can bring her husband.
The spouses live with their other halves for about a month, and then they are evicted to separate shelters. They now have a new status - “orang sumando”, which translates as “an alien in the wife’s house”. And they come to their spouse at night, like guests.
As soon as a woman decides that the second half is tired of her, she easily gets a divorce and is looking for a new husband. And her ex does not have not only property rights, but also children.
What are husbands for?
The people living in matriarchy believe that men are needed only for procreation and for work. Therefore, the "newcomers" do not stay here for a long time, they leave in search of a better life to where they are respected and appreciated. And their wives believe that husbands can live anywhere, and they don’t need a house at all.
By the way, many Indonesian men have various talents and are welcomed in other corners with open arms.
