Patriarchy and matriarchy are more limited concepts. They are statements about formal positions, and so-called political power. This means that patriarchy can

Patriarchy and matriarchy are more limited concepts. They are statements about formal positions, and so-called political power. This means that patriarchy can co-exist with women having considerable or even majority power, when all bases of power are considered. Sometimes people use the terms in an informal way -- like when talking about the "matriarch" of a Greek family. It's worth asking if those same people would say Greece was matriarchal -- the answer is usually no.