Do Twins Get Special Treatment?
Friday February 8, 2008
I've encountered plenty of examples of twin discrimination, but lately I've been thinking about situations where twins expect -- and receive -- special treatment simply because of their twinship. Do twins and multiples have a sense of entitlement beyond that of singletons?
I'd love to hear your thoughts on this issue, and especially examples of twins being subject to priviliges or advantages because of their status as multiples. Share your insights.
I'd love to hear your thoughts on this issue, and especially examples of twins being subject to priviliges or advantages because of their status as multiples. Share your insights.
Comments
I don’t know about priveleges for twins except for the fact that they have each other and that is a great advantage especially in new situations. I feel like my boys have definitely been subjects of discrimination though. When both try out for a play and neither makes it because one isn’t “good” enough. When both boys try out for soccer and both make it or neither make it. Just seems weird. Could work as negative or positive in both situations.
I’ll admit, I use my twins to gain the privelege of parking at the entrance of my sons private preschool. Days like this week when its -3 degrees, I don’t want to take my two babies in with me to sign him. The sign in is literally 10 feet away from where I park. I always lock the vehicle up and never take my eyes off it and am gone less than a minute.
I would never ask for special priveleges other than that, but I am not going to refuse when someone looks at me when I am standing in line at the grocery store with both babies crying and they offer to let me go in front of them. I’ll take priveleges like that.
People often get excited when they come across twins and even parents of twins, by this they are compelled to engage in a conversation and then favour twins especially if they look alike and are noticeable.
In most parts of Africa twins are viewed as a special happening, the twin parents usually have special titles and this attracts some kind of excitement which may lead to favouritism.
I know that as a perent of twin boys, every where we go people stop us and want to know about them, who’s calmer, who cries more, who’s wilder, if they do everything together. Some days I don’t mind but when I’m in a hurry it gets to be overwhelming. I mean they’re just babies even though there’s two of them.
As said by my good friend the first time we took my daughters out in public, “People just look at you differently when you have twins.” The girls definitely attract a LOT of attention, as do I being their mother. People are, for the most part, willing to be especially accommodating. There’s definitely a sense of entitlement that comes with being a parent of twins.