Nayar

Definition

The Nayar, also known as the Nair, are a community in the Indian state of Kerala known for their matrilineal social structure. The Nayar society is considered a classic example of a matriarchal system, where inheritance and descent are traced through the female line, and women hold significant social and economic power.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. In the Nayar system, women have a high degree of autonomy and decision-making power within the household and community.
2. Nayar children traditionally belonged to the mother's clan, and inheritance and property passed down through the female line.
3. The Nayar practice of 'sambandham,' a form of temporary marriage, allowed women to have multiple partners without societal stigma.
4. Nayar women played a significant role in the economic and social life of the community, often engaging in trade and commerce.
5. The Nayar system has been studied extensively by anthropologists as a prime example of a matrilineal and matriarchal social structure.

Review Questions

• Describe the key features of the Nayar social structure and how it differs from a patriarchal system.
  • The Nayar social structure is characterized by a matrilineal system, where descent and inheritance are traced through the female line. This is in contrast to a patriarchal system, where inheritance and lineage are passed down through the male line. In the Nayar system, women hold significant social and economic power, with a high degree of autonomy and decision-making authority within the household and community. The Nayar practice of 'sambandham,' a form of temporary marriage, also allows women to have multiple partners without societal stigma, further highlighting the matriarchal nature of their society.
• Analyze the role of the Tharavad, the traditional joint family system of the Nayar community, in maintaining their matrilineal social structure.
  • The Tharavad, the traditional joint family system of the Nayar community, plays a crucial role in maintaining their matrilineal social structure. In the Tharavad, property and inheritance are passed down through the female line, with children belonging to the mother's clan or family. This system ensures that wealth and resources remain within the matrilineal lineage, reinforcing the power and authority of Nayar women. The Tharavad also serves as a social and economic unit, where women are responsible for managing household affairs and participating in trade and commerce, further solidifying their role in the community.
• Evaluate the significance of the Nayar social structure as an example of a matriarchal society and its implications for understanding gender dynamics in different cultural contexts.
  • The Nayar social structure is widely recognized as a prime example of a matriarchal society, where women hold significant power and authority. By tracing descent and inheritance through the female line, the Nayar system challenges the patriarchal norms prevalent in many other societies. This matrilineal structure has implications for understanding gender dynamics in different cultural contexts, as it demonstrates that alternative social systems, where women hold primary power and decision-making roles, are possible. The Nayar case study encourages us to critically examine our assumptions about gender roles and to consider how cultural factors shape the distribution of power and resources within a society. Analyzing the Nayar matriarchal system can provide valuable insights into the diversity of human social organization and the potential for more equitable gender dynamics.

Related terms

Matrilineal: A social system in which descent and inheritance are traced through the female line, with children belonging to the mother's clan or family.

Matriarchy:

A social system in which women hold the primary power positions in roles of political leadership, moral authority, social privilege, and control of property.

Tharavad: The traditional joint family system of the Nayar community, where property and inheritance are passed down through the female line.