How is the Land of Oz shown as largely matriarchal in Baum’s Oz books?

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Illustration by W.W. Denslow showing Dorothy comforting the Cowardly Lion on a yellow brick road, with Toto, the Tin Woodsman, and the Scarecrow nearby in a forest. — The Wonderful Wizard of Oz An illustrated page by W.W. Denslow in L. Frank Baum's *The Wonderful Wizard of Oz*.

In L. Frank Baum’s Oz books, the Land of Oz is depicted as a largely matriarchal society. This portrayal is often attributed to the influence of Baum’s mother-in-law, a prominent advocate for women’s rights and suffrage, whose progressive views Baum adopted.1

The series emphasizes this structure through the creation of strong female characters and the revelation that the rightful ruler of Oz is a girl. Furthermore, the narrative features powerful female figures, such as Glinda, the Witch of the South, who serves as a decisive authority and guide for the protagonists when they seek her help to resolve their challenges. By centering these female characters as leaders and sources of ultimate wisdom, Baum established a world that challenged traditional gender roles in children’s literature.1