Kinship System of Minangkabau Matrilineal Fisherman Society in The City of Padang

. Minangkabau is famous for a matrilineal kinship system where lineage is based on maternal line. Women in a matrilineal society have a stronger position in the family and in decision making. The matrilineal kinship system in Minangkabau cannot be separated from the livelihood system that comes from agriculture. Minangkabau are known communal heirlooms; the inheritance is in the form of agricultural land such as rice fields or fields. Meanwhile, a small part of the Minangkabau community also earns a livelihood as fishermen. The livelihoods of fishing communities do not depend on agriculture, their source of livelihood depends on the expanse of the ocean; they earn their livelihood from fish catches. Therefore, the aim of this study is to better understand the application of the matrilineal kinship system in fishermen communities. Our research uses a qualitative approach by using observation, structured interviews and in-depth interviews techniques. The research was conducted in a fishing village in Pasia Nan Tigo Village, in the city of Padang. The result of the research indicates the matrilineal kinship system does not play an important role in the life of the fishing community. Fishermen know the name of their family clan, but they are not influenced by the kinship system in their daily life. Husbands and sons play more roles in the household as the economic backbone of the family and decision makers, meaning that in fishing communities there has been a shift in gender roles compared to gender roles in Minangkabau matrilineal society in general where women have a stronger position. Economically, the males play more and more important roles because since they are teenagers they have been able to sail to the middle of the sea to fish and make money for their families while girls are not yet able to work in that age range.