Gatekeeper

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A gatekeeper is a headmate who controls switching, access to certain areas inside the headspace, or access to certain system members or memories. In

gateway systems, this can also refer to a headmate whose job it is to watch over new system members trying to enter the system and either welcome them or deny them access.

Some gatekeepers may be able to force switches.

Related Terms
Gatekeepers can be trauma holders if they are a memory repository for a whole system, and may use more specific labels, like overseer, innkeeper, ISH, or receptionist.

It is important to avoid using the term 'system gatekeeper' to refer to sysmeds. Due to the harm that can be done by conflating the terms, gatekeeper - in the context of plurality - should be used exclusively to refer to the headmate role.

History
The general sense of gatekeeping, restricting access or information, has been in use since around since 1943. In the context of plurality, gatekeeper has been in use for several decades. The usage in the context of gateway systems is more recent.