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Title
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A Poetry Collection: Poems on Family Caregiving
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Creator
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Gwyneth E. Couey
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Exit Requirement
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Undergraduate Honors Thesis/Project
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Date of Award
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6/27/2026
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Honors Program Director
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Gavin Keulks
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Abstract
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The eldest sibling in a family usually bears more responsibilities compared to their younger counterparts, a difference widely discussed across the media; however, there is another interesting sibling dynamic that goes significantly unnoticed. Within families that have members who experience disability, the able-bodied sibling gains the obligations often cast onto the eldest child. In contrast to the older sibling phenomenon, the able-bodied sibling receives greater responsibility regardless of their place in the birth order. Not Simply is a collection of poems that describes my experiences as an eldest daughter and the able-bodied sibling in my family, expressing the journey of learning who I was in the midst of strong family bonds, a conflicting relationship with caregiving, and being split between the two worlds of ability and disability. These poems shed an important light on how the line between ability and disability is blurred within these families, further blurring the line between what is defined as normal and what is defined as different. On this blurred line, I come closer to finding the clearest image of myself as I explore the powerful influence it had on me as an individual.
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Type
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Text
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Department
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Honors
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Language
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eng
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Rights
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https://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/?language=en
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Western Oregon University Library has determined, as of 10/07/2026, this item is in copyright, which is held by the author. Users may use the item in accordance with copyright limitations and exceptions, including fair use. For other uses, please ask permission from the author.
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Identifier
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honors_100726g
