There are always going to be certain roles within the family and at times, we may not know why they exist. This includes the oldest daughter, who is often the ‘family manager.’
This isn’t just something that is seen in the developed part of the world, it seems as if every culture experiences the oldest daughter setting herself up as the family manager and running the household, at least in her own way.
This may make you wonder why this takes place. Here are a few reasons why it may occur.
First of all, the study of what happens due to birth order has been ongoing for many years. One of the pioneers in the field, Alfred Adler says that a sense of leadership is often experienced by the firstborn and they may feel responsible for the managerial position because of the attention they received from their parents.
Younger siblings may feel a need to stay in line by taking on certain responsibilities, but the older sibling seems to take on the manager role in the family.
A number of theories have been suggested by psychologists as to how personality is affected by birth order. When a child is the firstborn of the family, especially with their daughters, they are seen as being organized and conscientious.
The fact that they carry those traits means that they feel responsible for setting an example when younger siblings come along. They may also have a desire to please their parents and they try to organize things in order to do so.
Gender roles are also a part of our culture in many cases. Daughters are expected to be responsible and nurturing in many cultures, so they may take on the role of caregiver. The oldest daughter will experience this to an even greater degree, so they may set themselves up as the secondary caregiver with the mother taking the lead.
It is also important to consider the expectations a family may place on the firstborn. They are there to set the example and that additional pressure can cause them to push ahead socially and even academically.
Because of the expectations placed on the older daughter, they may take on the role of manager for the family as they try to meet those expectations and even exceed them.
The dynamics within the siblings also play a part. Because the oldest daughter may naturally assume such a position among the siblings, it is seen as normal by the siblings, and the behavior is reinforced.
A number of case studies have been done in regard to the older daughter taking on managerial roles within the family. Typically, it involves them trying to support and protect the younger children and to meet the expectations of their parents.
Undoubtedly, there are many benefits to taking on such a position within the family but it can also be a stressful issue in some cases. Older daughters may get overwhelmed by the pressure placed upon them but it can also be empowering, leading to greater things in the future.
The best thing that can be done is to strike a balance when it comes to the roles that siblings play within the family. Families can distribute responsibility and encourage all members of the family to take on tasks that will help to alleviate any stress placed on the older sibling.
