ABSTRACT
The research was carried out in small-scale communities among Black Carib (Belize), Logoli (Kenya), Newar (Nepal) and Samoan (American Samoa) villagers. In all the societies, the father is a policy-maker and figure of authority. External buttressing for this authority is found in patrilineally organized kin groupings among the Logoli and Newars, and in a village council made up of male household heads among the Samoans. Within the family, mothers make most of the day-to-day decisions concerning children and general household activities and, except among the Logoli, exert a degree of influence on their husbands with respect to larger decisions. Mothers seek the father's intercession in matters of serious discipline, and his opinions carry much weight in decisions about children's education and their plans for the future.
