Firstborns, especially daughters, in African communities often bear the burden of parentification and the concept of “black tax,” which refers to the additional responsibilities and pressures that African families face due to systemic racism and discrimination. In African cultures, gender expectations and cultural norms often dictate that firstborn daughters are expected to take on adult-like roles and responsibilities within the family, such as caregiving, financial support, or emotional support for younger siblings or even their parents. This premature assumption of adult responsibilities can result in a loss of childhood, increased stress, and emotional strain for the firstborn daughter.

The concept of “black tax” in African communities refers to the additional challenges families face due to systemic racism, including financial burdens, discrimination, and social inequalities. This can result in increased financial pressure on the firstborn daughter to support their family financially or navigate systemic barriers to achieve success.

The combination of parentification and the black tax can result in generational trauma for the firstborn daughter. It can impact their mental health, leading to stress, anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It can also affect their physical health, as increased responsibilities and stress may lead to chronic health conditions, such as hypertension or other stress-related illnesses.

To mitigate the generational trauma that firstborn daughters may face due to parentification and black tax, raising awareness about these issues within African communities and providing support and resources is important. Our task at Unmothering The Woman is to provide a safe space for open discussions to challenge harmful cultural norms, provide access to mental health support and resources, and promote self-care practices and empowering firstborn daughters to prioritize their own well-being which is crucial in mitigating the impact of parentification and black tax on their mental, emotional, and physical health. It is essential to create a supportive environment that recognizes and addresses the unique challenges faced by first born daughters in African communities and work towards breaking the cycle of generational trauma.