What is ‘eldest daughter syndrome’ and do first born girls really take on more duties?

‘Eldest daughter syndrome’ has been trending on TikTok, but do first borns really take on more duties in a family? Big sister Adele Miner asks the experts

Adele Miner with photos of her brother Aidan at her home in Kilbarrack, Dublin. Photo: Gareth Chaney

I’m doing a callout on my Instagram account to recruit eldest daughters to interview for for this feature. I write my usual line, “Hi! I’m looking for eldest daughters to chat to for a feature I’m writing. Send me a DM”. 

Often, it can take a day or so of waiting for replies, sometimes I have to post it again before someone bites, but not eldest daughters.