Matrilineal descent is a kinship system that favours the relatives of the mother, tracing ancestral descent and inheritance primarily through the maternal line. In a matrilineal system, individuals belong to their mother's kin group, and lineage and inheritance rights are typically passed down from mothers to their children, particularly daughters. This does not necessarily imply matriarchal rule, as men may still hold positions of authority, but it does mean that kinship ties and social identity are primarily determined through the female side of the family. Matrilineal descent is found in various cultures around the world and can have significant implications for family structure, social organisation, and the transmission of property and social status across generations.