SKILLS AND STRENGTHS GAINED FROM BEING A FIRST-BORN DAUGHTER IN A LATINO HOUSEHOLD

This research proposal aims to analyze the perspective first-born daughters in Latino households experience throughout their lives and looks to fill a gap in the literature about what this population faces due to being in the eldest daughter position in the household. The existing literature revealed that first-born daughters in Latino households experience a significantly higher amount of stress due to the role they take on in their households. Some of the responsibilities placed on them included financial burden, caregiving responsibilities, and a general higher expectation compared to their younger siblings. To obtain more knowledge on this topic, an exploratory, qualitative study is proposed in order to interview participants. The interview will consist of demographic questions to ensure information is gathered from the correct population of interest. Then a series of questions will follow which seek to understand what first-born daughters experienced coming from that birth position in their household and how that has impacted their current living situation. Our expected findings for this proposal aim to answer if first-born daughters in Latino households gained strengths and skills from being in that birth position in their family. The findings from this proposed study would help to fill the gap in the literature regarding first-born daughters in Latino households and provide a strengths-based perspective to their responsibilities. For the purpose of this paper the terms “first-born” and “eldest” are used interchangeably.