| Matet social dynamics | |
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| Type | Example |
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Clan-Tribe Structure
“leadership” and age-class
Adopting stragglers
Adopting stragglers.
Front-middle-hind section dynamics
Front-middle-hind section dynamics.
Relationships
Standard matet perceptions of relationships can be defined as proximity to ownership.
Instead of an analog to platonic-romantic-sexual dynamics, a matet would describe their relationship to another in terms of who [ owns / cares for / oversees / protects / watches ] who. This concept does not have a clear translation into English, so be wary of projecting unfounded connotations implied by any given stand-in word.
There are three standard positional alignments in this framework, with a broad sliding scale of proximity:
The first is “I [ own / care for / etc. ] this other.”
A caretaker oversees their charge. A mentor oversees their pupil. A more dominant matet oversees their less dominant companion. The leader of a group oversees their followers.
The second is “I am [ owned / cared for / etc. ] by another.”
A child is cared for by the [ clan-tribe ] at large. A child is cared for by a specific set of caregivers. A matet is cared for by a close companion. A student is cared for by their teacher. A younger sibling is cared for by an elder sibling.
The third is “I and another [ own / care for / etc. ] each other.”
This type can be further defined as stable (both parties take equivalent care of each other at the same time) or vacillating (a frequently changing dynamic, often where both parties take turns). Matet that share an age-class often bond in this way. The structure of a [ clan-tribe ] relies on its presence among all members, to some extent, to maintain group cohesion.
The axis of proximity ranges from vague acquaintance to coworker / clan-mate to friend-lover.
Distinctions between a friend and a lover are not a cultural feature, as the ownership-proximity dynamic does not divide the two. A matet will usually volunteer information on who owns who, while relying on emphasis, tone, and conversational context to explain proximity.
Child-rearing
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Funerary practices
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Tattooing traditions
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