“I pressure myself to be perfect.”
“I feel like I’m not allowed to be angry.”
“I put my family’s needs above my own.”
These are just a few of the shared experiences eldest Filipina daughters have voiced—a testament to the weight of cultural expectations and familial roles they often carry. While the role of the eldest child is celebrated in Filipino households, it’s also one of the most challenging. For many, it comes with an unspoken expectation to be perfect, selfless, and emotionally resilient for the sake of their families.
