  We study a model for low doped cuprates where holes aggregate into oriented
stripe segments which have a vortex and an antivortex fixed to the extremes. We
argue that due to the interaction between segments a state with macroscopic
polarization is stabilized, which we call a ferronematic. This state can be
characterized as a charge nematic which, due to the net polarization, breaks
inversion symmetry and also exhibits an incommensurate spin modulation. Our
calculation can reproduce the doping dependent spin structure factor of
lanthanum cuprates in excellent agreement with experiment and allows to
rationalize experiments in which the incommensurability has an order
parameter-like temperature dependence.
