The Mosuo

The Mosuo are an ethnic group in China's Yunnan and Sichuan provinces, known for their unique social system called "walking marriage," where women typically have autonomous relationships without formal marriages. They practice matrilineality, passing inheritance through maternal lines, and children usually stay with their mothers while men may maintain independent households. The Mosuo value personal choice in relationships, emphasizing family and community cohesion. Their culture offers a distinct example of gender equality and flexible family structures, which contrast with more mainstream traditional practices elsewhere.