walking marriages
Walking marriages are a unique cultural practice primarily found among the Mosuo people in China. In this arrangement, women maintain their independence and choose their partners freely, often inviting men to spend the night without formal commitments. The men typically return to their own homes after their visits, allowing women to retain control over their households and family structures.
In walking marriages, children are raised within the mother's family, and lineage is traced through the female line. This system challenges traditional notions of marriage and family, emphasizing personal choice and female empowerment while fostering strong community ties among the Mosuo.