Topic 4 DQ 1
How are the roles of oldest daughter and oldest son distinct in many cultures? In
large families after the available roles are taken, are the roles recycled? Give one
example of a life role assigned by gender and birth order. Hypothesize whether those
roles are influenced by the number of siblings in the family.
Hello class and professor,
I think there are many variations amongst these roles, however, I think that a decent
grouping of it would be Eastern and Western cultures. For example, in Eastern cultures the
eldest daughter tends to take on the motherly surrogate role while the eldest son is meant to
carry on the family line (Vision Psychology, 2022). In the Western cultures they are less
focused on carrying on the family line with male heirs and the eldest daughter is not
necessarily forced into the role of a motherly figure but still sometimes steps into that role. I
think it depends on the gap between children for if the cycle starts anew. For example, I think
that if a family consistently grows every 2-3 years to the point of having 6 or more kids then
the birth order becomes very muddled with the exception of the oldest. However if a family
had 3 siblings close together then waited 7+ years and had 3 more children, you would see two
cycles of birth orders in the family.
In terms of life roles, I think a big one is how the eldest daughter tends to be the care taker for
younger siblings as well as the parents as they age, or in certain circumstances, immediately. I
definitely think that the number of siblings and the age differences can sway the birth order
roles.
Source:
Birth Order. (2004). In W.E. Craighead, & C.B. Nemeroff (Eds.), The concise Corsini
Encyclopedia of psychology and behavioral science (3rd ed.). Wiley. Credo Preference:
https://;opes.idm.oclc.org/login?
url=htt[s://search.credoreference.com/content/entry/wileypsych/birth_order/0?
institutionId=5865
Vision Psychology. (2022, October 6). Impact of Culture, Birth Order & Gender Roles |
Calalina Name. https://www.visionpsychology.com/the-impact-of-culture-birth-order-and-
gender-roles/
How are the roles of oldest daughter and oldest son distinct in many cultures? In
large families after the available roles are taken, are the roles recycled? Give one
example of a life role assigned by gender and birth order. Hypothesize whether those
roles are influenced by the number of siblings in the family.
Hello class and professor,
I think there are many variations amongst these roles, however, I think that a decent
grouping of it would be Eastern and Western cultures. For example, in Eastern cultures the
eldest daughter tends to take on the motherly surrogate role while the eldest son is meant to
carry on the family line (Vision Psychology, 2022). In the Western cultures they are less
focused on carrying on the family line with male heirs and the eldest daughter is not
necessarily forced into the role of a motherly figure but still sometimes steps into that role. I
think it depends on the gap between children for if the cycle starts anew. For example, I think
that if a family consistently grows every 2-3 years to the point of having 6 or more kids then
the birth order becomes very muddled with the exception of the oldest. However if a family
had 3 siblings close together then waited 7+ years and had 3 more children, you would see two
cycles of birth orders in the family.
In terms of life roles, I think a big one is how the eldest daughter tends to be the care taker for
younger siblings as well as the parents as they age, or in certain circumstances, immediately. I
definitely think that the number of siblings and the age differences can sway the birth order
roles.
Source:
Birth Order. (2004). In W.E. Craighead, & C.B. Nemeroff (Eds.), The concise Corsini
Encyclopedia of psychology and behavioral science (3rd ed.). Wiley. Credo Preference:
https://;opes.idm.oclc.org/login?
url=htt[s://search.credoreference.com/content/entry/wileypsych/birth_order/0?
institutionId=5865
Vision Psychology. (2022, October 6). Impact of Culture, Birth Order & Gender Roles |
Calalina Name. https://www.visionpsychology.com/the-impact-of-culture-birth-order-and-
gender-roles/
