The Weight of Being First: Eldest Daughter Syndrome

Firstborn daughters in immigrant families often grow up faster than they expect to. From a young age, they are entrusted with responsibilities that extend far beyond typical childhood expectations. These daughters take on multiple duties, including supporting their parents with language barriers, caring for their younger siblings, and serving as a bridge between their home […]

Eldest Children Suffer Under Coercive Control Domestic Violence

Co-authored with Julie Nee All children suffer in families where one partner abuses and controls the other (Stark, 2023). In our work, we have seen that first-born child often suffer the most. In coercive control, one person dominates their partner through tactics including intimidation, isolation, and emotional, physical, sexual, and financial abuse (Fontes, 2015). Coercive […]