“Are you so and so’s sister?” “Do you play sports like your brother?” “You are the complete opposite of your brother and sister.”
Comparing siblings, especially ones who are clearly different, isn’t okay. In many cases, getting compared to a sibling can cause problems, such as stress, shyness and lower self esteem.

I have an older sister, Ashley. I’m always getting compared to her. People say stuff along the lines of “your sister’s second in her class, what’s your rank?” or “are you as good at sports as your older sister?”

These phrases don’t affect me much now but did when I was growing up. In sixth grade, I ceased doing sports, while my older sister continued to excel in gymnastics. It made me feel inferior to her.

People were constantly comparing me to her and it was not good for me, especially at such a young age. Whenever someone mentioned that I wasn’t as active as her, it made me feel like I was fat, even though I knew I wasn’t. There are days where I still feel that way.

The thing about getting compared to a sibling is that it’s not just family, people at school do it too. I was talking to a teacher and we got on the topic of cameras and I mentioned that I didn’t know how to work one. She responded by saying “why not, your sister is so good at it.”
This made me feel like I was dumb for not knowing how to work a camera.

Looking back on it, I realize that none of this is the case. I’m not dumb and I’m not fat. I will always be different from my sister and that’s okay.

People need to realize that the comments they make to someone’s little sibling can have devastating effects. Similarly, something younger siblings need to realize is that it’s okay for them to be different and be their own person.

A younger sibling being different from an older sibling, should be celebrated, not a cause for society to force them into the mold their older sibling left behind.