S2E74: Why eldest daughters carry so much weight: An Asian perspective

Being uber-responsible, people-pleasing and a perfectionist are traits that first-born girls in Asia purportedly have.Synopsis: Every first Friday of the month, The Straits Times catches up with its foreign correspondents about life and trends in the countries they're based in. A book in Taiwan on the so-called “eldest daughter syndrome” is now a bestseller translated into other languages.  It looks at how many first-born women in the East Asian society struggle with perfectionism, people-pleasing, burnout, anxiety and other mental health struggles. This often arises from the profound psychological and physical pressures that they face at home. What is even more insidious is when these traits carry over from the private space to their workplace.  Taiwan correspondent Yip Wai Yee, herself a first-born girl, speaks to foreign editor Li Xueying, another first-born girl, on her personal experience, as well as the question: where is all of this coming from?Highlights (click/tap above): 1:58 What is the eldest daughter syndrome 4:43 Myth vs social expectations 6:29 Eldest daughter syndrome entrenched in Taiwan society 10:17 How it plays into workplace burnout and boundaries 13:55 Managing guilt and saying no as an eldest daughter Read Yip Wai Yee’s article here: https://str.sg/jbsK  Read Li Xueying’s articles: https://str.sg/iqmR  Follow Li Xueying on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/ip4x   Sign up for ST’s weekly Asian Insider newsletter: https://str.sg/sfpz  Host: Li Xueying ([email protected]) Edited by: Fa’izah Sani Executive producer: Ernest Luis Follow Asian Insider on Fridays here: Channel: https://str.sg/JWa7 Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWa8 Spotify: https://str.sg/JWaX Feedback to: [email protected]  --- Follow more ST podcast channels: All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7 Get more updates: http://str.sg/stpodcasts  The Usual Place Podcast YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa  --- Get The Straits Times app, which has a dedicated podcast player section: The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX  --- #STAsianInsiderSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.