Help Received: Class discussion, Video, Own thoughts.

The Mosuo are a matrilineal rural culture in China. They are female centric meaning that the females are the center of the household, take care of the property, raise kids and are allowed to have multiple partners. This allows them run their households and pursue their career with complete freedom from the bonds of marriage. On the flip side however this means that the men are free to sleep with whomever they want whenever they want. Which means they are not around to help support and protect the family or raise kids. I think this is a little odd, I think that kids regardless if they are sons or daughters need the guidance and mentorship of the father as well as the mother. Both are equally as important.

The part that I don’t understand (and maybe I’m just a romantic) but for me I can only love one person. I do not understand how someone can chose to have kids with someone and be in an open relationship with someone else. Where is the jealousy? I would not be able to stand my partner seeing someone else for one second. I also kind of feel like the system that the Mosuo pressures men to be dishonorable. By taking away marriage they are free to do whatever they want but on the flip side you cant really have love if your seeing multiple people.

Men are also traditionally the protectors of the household. And in a country like China where firearms are banned you need men to protect the household, and from the looks of their society there is a complete lack of security for women and children which is not good.