When looking to interview subjects for this auto ethnography, I immediately decide to interview my roommate, Caitlin. Caitlin lives in Westport, Connecticut and is the youngest of five older brothers. Throughout my relationship with her, I can always see how her relationship with her brothers has strongly shaped her personality, who she is, and her life choices. I strongly believe that they impact her life in many different ways. I decided to interview her to get her intake on how she felt her sibling situation and how she felt about my blog and my review of literature.
Q: How does it feel to be the youngest and only girl in the family with 5 older brothers?
A: Well, I get this question a lot. I think that its hard to answer because its all I know and its all I ever had, but I think it makes me unique. It has taught me to be who I am because I became very independent from it. Not many people can say they are the youngest girl of 5 older brothers. It is definitely something different, but I would not want it any other way.
Q:According to Psychologist G. Stanley Hall, "being an only child is a disease." How do you feel about that?
A: I somewhat agree with that statement. I don't think its a disease but I do think that people who are only children are limited to certain aspects of life such as growing up with people who are the most essential part of childhood. They not only serve as role models but also drive you to be completely different. Having older brothers gives me the ability to look up to people who only have my best interest at heart. I learn from their successes, their failures, and all their life experiences. At the end of the day, it is amazing to know that you have these people in your life who want nothing but success for you.
Q:Do you think your life would be different had you grown up with sisters and how?
A: 100 percent. I would not be forced to be my own person as much. If i had sisters, I would be more vulnerable to conformity , whereas having brothers, I am more of my own person and am forced to make my own decisions. I understand that sisters definitely do have a special and distinct bond, but so do a brother and a sister. I am able to connect with my brothers on a different level than if I were to have sisters. In either cases, I would still have someone to look up to, but in the case of having a brother, I am more likely to look up to him while still being able to make my own decisions. I feel like if I did have a sister, I would try to do everything I can to live up to her lifestyle and her standards.
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Q: Would you agree that female siblings have closer relationships than male relationships
A: I think its a different relationship. Boys never show high affection for each other like sisters do, but no matter what, are there for each other. Especially being someone who has twins brothers, it shows that they are always there for each other at the end of the day through any curve ball life throws at them. They also do care less about materialistic things than girls do so I think that makes a big difference as well.
Q: A study showed that the longer people sustain close sibling relationships, the more it can benefit and protect those people emotionally. How do you feel about that
A: I agree. Friends come and go, but family is always there. Even as high school ends and college ends, you lose touch with your friends, but in most cases you are forced to stay in touch with your family. Sibling relationships, whether good or bad, can deeply affect anyone's life. Like I said before, my siblings impact my day-to- day decisions. They also prepare me for the future and make me a stronger person. Therefore, if I didn't have them, I don't think I would be as prepared as I am to take on the "real world."
Q: What is one of your best memories from growing up with your siblings?
A: That's a tough one. It would probably be going to the beach during the summer days and nights and just enjoying each others company. My mom would set up a small picnic on the beach and we would all run around and play on the sand and in the ocean and spend time together. It is something we still do today and is just as enjoyable as it was when we were younger.
Q: How does it feel to be the youngest and only girl in the family with 5 older brothers?
A: Well, I get this question a lot. I think that its hard to answer because its all I know and its all I ever had, but I think it makes me unique. It has taught me to be who I am because I became very independent from it. Not many people can say they are the youngest girl of 5 older brothers. It is definitely something different, but I would not want it any other way.
Q:According to Psychologist G. Stanley Hall, "being an only child is a disease." How do you feel about that?
A: I somewhat agree with that statement. I don't think its a disease but I do think that people who are only children are limited to certain aspects of life such as growing up with people who are the most essential part of childhood. They not only serve as role models but also drive you to be completely different. Having older brothers gives me the ability to look up to people who only have my best interest at heart. I learn from their successes, their failures, and all their life experiences. At the end of the day, it is amazing to know that you have these people in your life who want nothing but success for you.
Q:Do you think your life would be different had you grown up with sisters and how?
A: 100 percent. I would not be forced to be my own person as much. If i had sisters, I would be more vulnerable to conformity , whereas having brothers, I am more of my own person and am forced to make my own decisions. I understand that sisters definitely do have a special and distinct bond, but so do a brother and a sister. I am able to connect with my brothers on a different level than if I were to have sisters. In either cases, I would still have someone to look up to, but in the case of having a brother, I am more likely to look up to him while still being able to make my own decisions. I feel like if I did have a sister, I would try to do everything I can to live up to her lifestyle and her standards.
.
Q: Would you agree that female siblings have closer relationships than male relationships
A: I think its a different relationship. Boys never show high affection for each other like sisters do, but no matter what, are there for each other. Especially being someone who has twins brothers, it shows that they are always there for each other at the end of the day through any curve ball life throws at them. They also do care less about materialistic things than girls do so I think that makes a big difference as well.
Q: A study showed that the longer people sustain close sibling relationships, the more it can benefit and protect those people emotionally. How do you feel about that
A: I agree. Friends come and go, but family is always there. Even as high school ends and college ends, you lose touch with your friends, but in most cases you are forced to stay in touch with your family. Sibling relationships, whether good or bad, can deeply affect anyone's life. Like I said before, my siblings impact my day-to- day decisions. They also prepare me for the future and make me a stronger person. Therefore, if I didn't have them, I don't think I would be as prepared as I am to take on the "real world."
Q: What is one of your best memories from growing up with your siblings?
A: That's a tough one. It would probably be going to the beach during the summer days and nights and just enjoying each others company. My mom would set up a small picnic on the beach and we would all run around and play on the sand and in the ocean and spend time together. It is something we still do today and is just as enjoyable as it was when we were younger.