because I do think guys are literally endowed with a pack mentality, but I don't see girls falling into a queen/worker binary so easily. I feel like some girls do and some girls, er, don't.

That can be said of some boys too.
Arguably, pairing off with other quiet girls is starting a pack. A quiet pack.


I don't think Katara tried to *dominate* Toph, exactly...?? And also, these power-struggles aren't automatically *those* sorts of power struggles (and besides, the Queen doesn't really struggle or fight for her position the way an Alpha does, she's just sort of... different). Like, Toph is very individualistic and 'hey, I can do it myself, thanks', which makes her like me in that sense-- this is where the whole queen metaphor breaks down, too.

Katara attempted to impose her teaching style onto Toph. Sure, this attempt at to dominate is gentle but it's none too subtle.

I agree that Toph doesn't attempt to dominate Katara. She's solitary. She is a rock. She is an island. So, the queen metaphor may break down with her.


I don't think Toph wanted dominance over anyone

Yet, she has entered into competitive events where the one who dominates the other is victor. When she 'sees' The Boulder come to the batter on the DoBS, she challenges him, asking if he's looking for a rematch.