Matriarchal or Patriarchal societies in ME ???

[Bêthberry]

Originally Posted by The Might

As far as Easterling or Southron communities are concerned I am quite sure that they have a fully patriarchal society. Because of a less developed society I would expect that womed had less rights in the east and south then in the more advanced north-west part of Middle-earth.
The same would go in my opinion for others such as the Beornings, the Woodmen, the Woses or the Lossoth.

But is it appropriate to think of the Easterlings and Southrons as having a less developed society, or that the north-west part of Middle-earth is more 'advanced'?

And about Varda, is there a relationship between worship of a female god and matriarchial societies? There is archeological evidence of goddesses being supplanted by montheism, but I'm not sure what the social organisation was of those socieities.

And about Galadriel and Celeborn, it is interesting that while she sails west we are not told definitely when Celeborn leaves (I hope I am remembering that correctly. I haven't reread LotR in some time).