Exploring Gender Sustainability in Khasi Society: An Analysis of Matrilineality and Women Empowerment

Abstract

In the matrilineal society of the Khasi in Northeast India, inheritance and lineage are transmitted via the maternal line, positioning women in a notably empowered stance relative to many other tribal societies within the country. Despite the matrilineal inheritance system, a matriarchal societal structure is absent, with men enjoying crucial roles in familial and communal spheres. Though significant, Khasi women's autonomy prompts an inquiry into its efficacy in fostering an environment of sustainable gender equality. This chapter delves into the dynamics of Gender Sustainability within the Khasi context, focusing on the need for systemic adjustments that target gender equity on a longitudinal scale. It emphasizes that achieving gender sustain-ability transcends solving immediate disparities; it necessitates formulating and implementing policies to mitigate future gender inequalities. The evo-lution of women's empowerment within such traditional societies depends on flexible capacities, policy effects, and the attitudes of state leaders. The profoundly ingrained cultural institutions that sculpt gender norms and roles are crucial in these processes. Khasi society has, to some extent, diminished women's reliance on men for household decision-making and mobility. It is essential to look at the capacity of Khasi women to direct their autonomy to establish a gender-equal milieu that leads their interests against opposition and engenders a supportive ecosystem for future generations, irrespective of gender. This chapter challenges the efficacy of autonomy in making a genuinely equitable gender landscape, suggesting a multifaceted approach that includes cultural, policy-oriented, and societal interventions. © 2026 Dhishna Pannikot. All rights reserved.