SIBLING RELATIONSHIPS

Problem with sibling relationships - Are your sibling relationships healthy or unhealthy? 

Having an older sibling is good because you have someone to look up to even if you have your parents, but is it true?

Just imagine twins. Usually people believe that twin are best friends, right? But usually, people, even parents like one twin better than the other. Are the twins trying to steal each other’s spotlight? Yes. Are the twins trying to get people’s attention? Yes. They fight with each other to get people’s attention, and fight to get love from BOTH of the parents instead of one.

It is natural for sibling to fight. It is pretty hard to find siblings that get along with each other. Parents usually have the hardest time trying to get their children to get along with each other. It is not the chores, it is not the shopping, but it is their children. 

Sibling conflict usually happen because of parents, like it is a divorce, or your mum have a not so brilliant idea of having you to chose with your own seat in the dining table, and you and your sibling fight for the seat that is closest to the TV? Small arguments like this can drift sibling apart. Siblings with divorced parents relatively are closer to each other, because they rely on each other to survive through a single parent, while that parent is at work, the children will take care of each other, help each other when needed.

“We only argue about the most randomest things like who gets the last piece of chips or who is the best.” Ella, an eighth grader, agrees.

What about the people who are an only child? They usually have more friends and they tend to trust their friends more than the people with siblings. They have more trust on other people then their family members. The good thing about being a single child is that you do not have to fight for seats, the last piece of pizza, for anything.

They why are sibling relationships important you ask?

Sibling relationships are important because:

1. Friends might come and go, but you will have siblings will stick with you for your entire life. This relationships is one of your longest relationships that people have experienced.

2:Siblings have the same genes, the same interest, grown in the same environment. Siblings might be different, but you generally have the same interest, the same ideas, same hobbies etc. just because you share a house, perhaps sharing a room, even sharing the same food maybe. They know that they will always have each other, and that bond them together even more when they are together.

3. A support from an older sibling can drive academic achievement. The older sibling helps with work, while the younger sibling copies the older one, and the older sibling can give advice of what is good or not like which classes to take etc.

So how close is your sibling to you?

According to businessinsider.sg with a survey with 7,730 americans, only 30% will call their sibling for an emergency, and over 60% said that their sibling was one of their best friends.

Bonding with your sibling is really important, even if their parents treat them differently, your sibling is one of the most important people in the world. People tend to bond with their sibling more than bonding with their parents. Are you close to your sibling?

By: Lydia

The Impacts of Stereotypes on Children and Society

A girl walks down the hallway with a basketball under her arm and a smile on her face. Suddenly, a group of boys run past knocking the ball away. “Girls can’t play sports.” They laugh as the ball bounces down the hall and the happiness drains out of her. She, along with many others is a victim of stereotypes. Stereotypes are everywhere, and affect the way people view the world around them. From a young age it is imprinted on children that because you are one way, you must do a certain thing or because you believe something, you are the same as everyone else who believes something similar. The people most often caught in the crosshairs of stereotypes, are children. Stereotypes form the way children think about themselves; being so young they are are very impressionable, so if someone tells them something, it sticks.

One parent of a child at UWCSEA East has had an experience with one of the many common stereotypes. “I wanted to buy a construction house building kit for my daughter, but they only ones I could find were in the boys section and I worried that I was buying something not appropriate for girls.” She says. This illustrates a common misconception. In every store most baby clothes are coloured in the way associated with that specific gender. There are stereotypical toys for each gender as well. In the “girls toys section” there are dolls, cooking sets and beauty kits as if preparing them for a life staying home, cooking and taking care of children. In the “boys toys section” there are soldiers, cars and fake guns as if telling them to be violent is the only way to be “manly”. These stereotypes affect children from a very young age and influence gender roles later in life. The children can think it isn’t right to like something from the other gender, and if they do like it then they can feel out of place amongst their friends. This may force them to create a version of themselves that isn’t true to who they actually are.

Noshin Saiyaara is a grade 8 student at UWCSEA East whose life is full of stereotypes. “Most of the stereotypes I face are from my own family, saying that because I am a girl, my life should basically be about school, marriage and becoming a housewife.” She says. This reveals that gender roles are also deeply buried in society’s views. Children can even experience them from their own family. In traditional families it is believed that the role of a woman is to take care of her husband and children, while the man goes out and earns money for the family. In some families this model may work, however girls are capable more than just housework. It is stereotyped that women are somehow incapable of providing their own source of income and need to be taken care of by the man. This stereotype affects young girls growing up to think that they don’t have to try because they’ll get a husband who can take care of them. This thinking can lead to children not living up to their capabilities and not trying their very best.

“Some people assume because I am a Muslim, I am a terrorist.” Noshin continues. Sadly, this is a reality for many people. The growing terrorism in the middle east is causing effects on Muslims all around the world. Many people view them as a threat because of the stereotypes created by a few extremists. In the airports, despite the selections of passengers for further screening being “completely random”, the ones chosen are usually Muslims or Arab. This is due to racial profiling and stereotypes. Everyone is entitled to their religion, and that religion doesn’t determine whether a person has good or bad intentions. It doesn’t just apply for muslims, every religion has a specific look that society feels all members should have. “People think that just because my nose is slightly more arched than most, it must mean I am Jewish.” Said Lia Shoshani, another 8th grade student. Despite the fact that she actually is Jewish, the way she looks should not be what gives it away. Religions cross international borders, and are followed by people all over the world. So to say that all members should look a certain way is discriminating against the majority. This stereotype can lead to children feeling like the world doesn’t accept their religion or that they don’t belong in their religion. That can cause conflicting ideals in a young person who is still trying to find their place in the world.

“People tell me that Indians are smart, so they ask: why aren't you?” Said one student at UWCSEA East when asked if she ever felt subjected to stereotypes. Many have thought that all Asians are smart, and all Asians want to become doctors or lawyers. However many Asians are actually better at other things. Maybe they’re good at sports, maybe their good at art, it depends on the individual. Your race in no way determines your strengths and weaknesses. It is related to your heritage, and although that may influence your interests, every person is an individual and is entitled to their own opinions. These stereotypes can make a child feel as if they have a responsibility to fulfill them. Instead of pursuing their passion, children may change their mind to make the stereotypes true. Just like religion, one stereotype for a racial group is not capable of accurately defining all it’s members.

“I sometimes judge sporty people and think they’re are not exactly good at academics.” The student continues. It is often assumed that someone can only be good at one thing. If you’re good at academics you’re a nerd and not good at sport, if you’re good at sport you’re a jock and dumb. In actual fact, someone’s skills are not only focused on one thing, and hobbies cannot define someone’s personality. Human brains are remarkable, and capable of specialising in more than one area. These generally untrue stereotypes are common in movies and televison, rule the school hallways and can negatively influence the way students view each other from a young age.

Although stereotypes are a huge problem, there are ways in which we can prevent ourselves from using them to judge others. Despite the fact that some may actually be true or rooted in some form of truth, don’t let your first impression of someone get in the way of actually getting to know someone; they may be totally different to how they initially appear. Second, don’t resort to a single story and assume it applies to everyone, it most likely won’t. Finally, be aware of stereotypes the next time you use them to judge someone. Stereotyping is often subconscious and we don’t even realise we’ve done it until the moment has passed.

Stereotypes have surround every topic, and have always been around. However the impacts they are having on today’s society are worsening. “I always feel like a have a sort of responsibility towards the stereotype.” Says Francesca Marshall, another student at UWCSEA East. “I think in a lot of cases people use stereotypes to form opinions on others. They just assume because you’re Asian you’re smart, or because you’re Muslim you’re dangerous. I don’t think people should assume that just because of your race or religion, you’re something you’re not. Everyone is unique and different, stereotypes don't define who you are.”

by Isabella Duncan