Matriarchy describes a social system in which women have power and authority; this means that female contributions are not only valued but also that women make decisions that affect their individual lives, their families, the community, and the [Page 1125]larger society. Single females or groups of women occupy leadership positions across the public and private spheres. A feminine perspective undergirds all social institutions, including the economy, education, politics, and religion. This entry begins by addressing some types of social systems described by the term matriarchy; it then discusses matriarchal and patriarchal societies, using the Cherokee and U.S. societies as examples, and offers two theories to explain the existence and understanding of matriarchy in these societies.