What does the term "patrilocal" refer to in family systems?

The term "patrilocal" refers specifically to a residential pattern where a newly married couple resides with or near the husband's family, particularly his parents. This practice is often associated with cultures that emphasize patrilineal descent, where lineage and inheritance are traced through the male line. In a patrilocal arrangement, the wife typically moves into the husband's household, indicating a strong connection to the husband's family and support system.

This setup has implications for family dynamics, social roles, and resource sharing, as it often reinforces the husband’s family network. The arrangement may facilitate the integration of the wife into the husband's kin group while providing the couple with access to resources and support from the husband's established family structure. Thus, understanding patrilocality is essential in exploring how cultural values influence living arrangements and family systems.