Miqo'te Male/Female Relations and Views on Marriage

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Originally Posted by Mholito

Both of them seem to have taken a lot more critisism for being together with someone of a different race, than for being together with someone of the same gender.

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While I think you're right on that as far as the quest dialogue, I'm pretty sure either would be a big issue to a culture that treats its males as sperm banks with little more than serial numbers for names. (Why I will never play as a Keeper.) I'm still crying over the implications either way, but happy that they've found a new home together.

I think the comparing of Seeker tribes to lions or feral cats is a comparison you need to be careful with. Being part of the societies we are we all tend to associate sex with power, and thus presume that the position of Nunh is a position of power. However that's not necessarily the case; as the naming convention post notes, being a Nunh does not equate to being the leader of a tribe. The Nunh (because remember, most tribes have more than one) may be the strongest and most accomplished members of their tribe, but not necessarily the most intelligent, cunning, or capable of making difficult political decisions. It's entirely likely that tribes exist where the Nunh are beholden to the authority of a ruling Tia or female.

Another issue with the lion pride comparison is the "alpha males rule, females work" issue. The Nunh are not alpha males. The women of the tribe are not beholden to them and do not serve them; if anything the Nunh are beholden to the women. What happens when a Nunh really dislikes a particular woman, but she decides she wants to start having children and demands he give her what she needs for that? In all likelihood, his feelings will be disregarded and he will be forced to perform his duty.

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Originally Posted by Intaki

as the naming convention post notes, being a Nunh does not equate to being the leader of a tribe. The Nunh (because remember, most tribes have more than one) may be the strongest and most accomplished members of their tribe, but not necessarily the most intelligent, cunning, or capable of making difficult political decisions. It's entirely likely that tribes exist where the Nunh are beholden to the authority of a ruling Tia or female.

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While we know that being a Nunh doesn't necessarily come with a leadership position, it apparently gives them a leg up on trying for one. Among the U tribe members we meet, the two Tias who are vying for the Nunh position are doing so with political agendas in mind.

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Originally Posted by Intaki

Another issue with the lion pride comparison is the "alpha males rule, females work" issue. The Nunh are not alpha males. The women of the tribe are not beholden to them and do not serve them; if anything the Nunh are beholden to the women.

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Well, that comparison wouldn't match lion prides either. Lion prides are primarily matriarchal. The alpha male will drive off other males, but it's usually the alpha female who rules the pride (or as nearly as any of them do). What's more, she'll have her leadership position for life, and then pass it to the most charismatic of her sisters or daughters, whereas males come and go, maintaining their alpha status only until a stronger unrelated male comes along.

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Originally Posted by Niwashi

While we know that being a Nunh doesn't necessarily come with a leadership position, it apparently gives them a leg up on trying for one.

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http://forum.square-enix.com/ffxiv/t...ng-Conventions

This post explicitly states that Nunh becoming leaders is very uncommon. The U tribe is something that's always annoyed me, since it's the only representation of a Seeker tribe in game and it contradicts the lore SE has put forward outside the game.

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Originally Posted by Intaki

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Alpha does not = lord and commander.

In the example of wolf packs it means the breeding pair. In seeker tribes the nunh(s) are the breeding males and therefore alpha.

There will be an alpha female too, and in most cases she runs the tribe. I have a post a few pages back about this.

As to the U tribe, their nunh IS exceptionally wise and patient, therefore he is among the rare exceptions.

I do hope we get to meet another seeker tribe someday.

In the field of ethology, the most common definitions for "alpha" specify that the alpha exists at the highest point of the hierarchy within its group. There can be an alpha pair that shares this position, but in almost all cases it does in fact mean that any animal designated alpha is in charge and on top.

Even if they are "on top" that does not necessarily mean that they lead. They warrant the most respect and their word is followed, but they could prefer to take a backseat position or leave someone else to the role, think about the actual guildmaster of the Arcanist guild. He's considered tops, but the Roegadyn actually runs things.

Right, but she does so only under the authority and delegation of the guildmaster. The position of Nunh does not inherently possess this authority. That's not to say Nunh are unable to be given authority, but their position as chief breeders of the clan is not where they derive it from.

I seem to recall that the nunh of the U tribe has some authority, however there are also females in the tribe that generally appear to dislike him from comments you get approaching them, my guess is that yes the nunh has /some/ influence, but the main role of males appears to be raising the young children/hunters of the tribe.

As far as keepers go I sort of doubt that they care what their breeding males preferences are as long as it doesn't hinder breeding too much, its not like there has to be an emotional connection (though that doesn't mean its impossible for keepers to fall in love obviously)

I can however see how it would aggravate miqo'te in general to fall for someone outside the tribe or their own kind because that means one less breeding male in an already small group

The fact that races stick with their own would affect Keepers and Duskwights the most due to the isolated nature of their cultures (least amount of contact with world). We also know that men are really nothing more than breeders in Keeper culture, as evidenced by*quests and leves. Any male looking for a monogamous relationship would be forced to leave the traditional way of life to seek it. However, this would easily piss off the rest of the clan because he would be violating the natural order. Females rely on males to keep the bloodlines going, so they are necessary to have around. With males already being rarer to begin with, it would really hurt the clan's chances of survival if they left. But males must KNOW they are really nothing more than glorified sperm banks on legs, why wouldn't they all just leave in the end? My guess is that they know if they leave, they would be dooming their race into oblivion,*so they just accept their fate for the greater good of the clan.