I Am An Only Child-Please Don’t Judge Me

Stereotypes of An Only Child

Photo by Wadi Lissa on Unsplash

I cringe when I tell people that I am an only child because the first response I normally get is that I’m spoiled. Am I spoiled? Well, that’s a loaded question.

By spoiled, do you mean that I threw tantrums, and my parents gave me everything that I wanted? Hell no, that did not happen. But they did make sure that I had everything that I needed. They provided for me as a child and I will be forever grateful to them.

So, why is it that being an only child comes with so many stigmas and stereotypes? People have made me feel guilty for being an only child, something that I had no choice in.

My parents did not want to have additional kids because they thought one was enough, so please can you stop judging me for something I had no control of?

What is the definition of stereotype?

“In social psychology, a stereotype is a fixed, over generalized belief about a particular group or class of people. By stereotyping we infer that a person has a whole range of characteristics and abilities that we assume all members of that group have.”— Simple Psychology

There are a number of stereotypes that are associated with being an only child. They include, but not limited to:

• Only children are spoiled
• Only children are selfish
• Only children are bossy
• Only children are lonely

Are these stereotypes based on facts or just some made up ideas that parents with more than one child and society have adapted into their minds as factual? Let’s examine.

Spoiled.
All only children are not spoiled and if they are, it is based on the way they were parented. If parents decide to give a child everything they ask or cry for, then yes that child will be spoiled. That child will grow up with the same expectations from the real world, which will be a rude awakening for them. After lots of begging and pleading, I didn’t get the monkey that I asked for, nor did I receive any other pets for that matter.

Selfish.
Most kids, whether you think so or not experience a phase of selfishness. “That’s mine”…