Basic Trope: In a set of twins, the older one puffs up this title, even if they are only older by a few minutes.
- Straight: Alice was born half an hour before Eliza, and constantly takes advantage of "Older Sister Privilege".
- Exaggerated:
- Alice ruthlessly exploits "Older Sister Privilege" so her parents treat her like royalty and Eliza like dirt.
- Alice cruelly bosses Eliza around, and their Abusive Parents allow this.
- "Eliza" and "Alice" are clones, and Alice came out of the vat .001 seconds before Eliza; she has the timing memorized and takes advantage of Older Clone Privilege.
- Alice has several friends and cousins who also use this excuse on their siblings to get the best of everything.
- Downplayed:
- Alice only mentions being the older sister once, in order to get the last cookie all to herself instead of having to give half to Eliza.
- Alice wishes that her parents would treat her as superior to Eliza because she's older. However, she never asks them for such treatment, possibly because she knows that her parents will refuse.
- Justified:
- Alice and Eliza — or, if you will, Jacob and Esau — are born into a society that puts much importance on the inheritance of the firstborn child. So Alice (or Esau) having been born first isn't a mere accident: it will determine their entire future lives.
- In a World… where children born on the stroke of midnight have magical powers, Alice's birth at twelve o'clock precisely gives her wizardly gifts beyond mortal ken. Eliza has to content herself with being the sidekick.
- Though she has no (known) special powers, the timing of Alice's birth makes her The Chosen One.
- Alice is The Chosen One (or everyone thinks she is) because she's the firstborn.
- Inverted:
- Eliza believes that, as the baby of the family, she should be indulged, pampered, and protected by everyone, especially her older sister.
- The parents offer Alice various privileges because she's older than Eliza, but she declines them.
- Eliza believes that Alice deserves "Older Sister Privilege", but Alice insists that she and Eliza are equals.
- Alice was born half an hour before her brother Alex, but they live in a patriarchal society, and their father is dead. As a result, Alex is raised to think of himself as the leader because he's the family's only living male.
- Because Alice was born first, she takes responsibility for protecting Eliza.
- Subverted:
- Eliza, much more worldly wise than Alice, acts as the leader, despite admitting that she is younger.
- Despite squabbling over everything else in their lives, Alice and Eliza agree that there's really no point in either one claiming superiority because of the order they were born in.
- Alice and Eliza's mother reveals that they are not twins, but part of a set of triplets, and the oldest sibling (James) died in infancy. Therefore, Alice is not the firstborn.
- Double Subverted:
- Their parents reveal that Eliza is actually older than Alice, and therefore, has all Older Sister Privilege.
- They change their minds after overhearing this argument from another pair of siblings.
- Alice continues to make claims of Older Sister Privilege, because she is the family's oldest living child.
- Parodied: ???
- Zig Zagged: Alice and Eliza both makes claims of sibling privileges because of their birth order.
- Averted:
- Alice and Eliza never argue about privileges; Eliza will have no problem referring Alice as the older sibling, and vice-versa.
- Alice and Eliza are very minor characters, and the issue is never addressed.
- Enforced: "Alice and Eliza get along too well. It's unrealistic." "I know. Let's have Alice say that she should get the best of everything because she was born first."
- Lampshaded: "I should have the best of everything because I'm the oldest. It's called Older Sister Privilege."
- Invoked:
- Alice overhears her friends Diane and Helen arguing about Older Sister Privilege.
- The parents decide to treat Alice better because Eliza is The Unfavorite. When Eliza asks them about it, they use "Older Sister Privilege" as an excuse.
- Exploited: ???
- Defied:
- Eliza and Alice are only two of a huge, contentious brood of children; they're too busy holding their own against their brothers and sisters to squabble with each other.
- Eliza and Alice's parents never say which twin was actually born first, denying either sister Privilege.
- A law is passed requiring families to treat siblings fairly.
- The family knows that Alice was born first, but their parents treat her and Eliza equally.
- Discussed: "No, we don't argue about privileges. I'm the oldest, but that doesn't mean I should get the best of everything."
- Conversed: "Why don't those girls' parents step in? Twin sisters should think of each other as equals. In fact, siblings should always see each other as equals, regardless of age difference."
- Implied: The parents treat Alice better than Eliza for no apparent reason.
- Played For Laughs: Eliza agrees with Alice that the older sibling should have the best of everything.
- Played For Drama: Alice talks her parents into allowing her to murder Eliza.
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