"Mother Right" (theory by Johann Jakob Bachofen)

"Mother Right" is a theory proposed by Swiss jurist Johann Jakob Bachofen in the 19th century. It suggests that early human societies were matriarchal, meaning that women held primary power, particularly in familial and social structures. Bachofen argued that lineage and inheritance were traced through the mother rather than the father. This perspective contrasts with later patriarchal systems where men dominate social and political roles. His ideas contributed to discussions about gender roles in history, anthropology, and the evolution of family structures, highlighting the potential significance of maternal influence in the development of human societies.