Editing Eskara (section)

== Family Structure ==


A household compound will consist of a 'big house' where the oldest woman (matriarch) lives alongside sisters and daughters, and a men's barracks. There may also be one or more 'small houses' where older daughters will live, 
freeing up space in the Big House for younger women. So the Big House can be home for three or four generations of women and their children. The most senior women will share authority for the home and various family businesses,
or they may assign the management roles to their daughters. Most women work outside the home, as professionals or in business. 
 
If life-partnered, men will live in the Big House alongside the women. Casual partners and non-partnered men (e.g. brothers) will stay in the barracks. They are often invited to the big house for daily meals or special events, but it is not a right. 
 
From the age of two years, children are housed in the household 'creche' until they come of age at sixteen years. The creche is managed by one of the women in the household, often with the assistance of young women who are beginning to train family management skills.

Daily lessons are provided, and all children are expected to contribute to household chores. Once they come of age, the young women will move to a separate bedroom in the Big House, the young men move to the barracks.