Sibling survey

[ash48]

The recent Very (Un)Scientific Survey produced pretty unremarkable results in terms of whether or not character preferences were influenced by having younger or older siblings - unsurprisingly (though I admit to being a little hopeful that there was some pattern).

What is a little bit interesting is the number of participants who are the eldest.



Participants and their sibling relationships:



Of the 81 participants just over half had younger siblings. Unfortunately I can't make a sweeping statement regarding the demographic of Supernatural watchers from such a small sample of fans. I am sure this says more about my flist than anything else (though it would be totally cool to find out if this small sample was representative of SPN fans. I wonder what that would say about SPN watchers and being the eldest in the family).

As to whether your character preferences are determined by if you have older, younger or no siblings I think we can pretty confidently say there is no relationship whatsoever.

All the categories (Dean, Sam or Bi!bro) had majority of the eldest sibling.

Dean people: 55%
Sam people: 57%
Bi bro: 44%

(ETA: Poll results have changed - due to more participants. Though the trend still holds)

For full results check out the Poll.

In the comments most people agreed that even though they had leanings toward one brother they are essentially bi bro. A few ticked each box, arguing that their preference changed as the season progressed. Or felt it fluctuated.



I'm not sure if a full demographic survey of SPN fans has even been done. I know some media have referred to fans as "14 year old girls" - which feels completely off the mark to me. But that's probably just the circles I keep (and looking at con attendees). There may well be as many 14 year olds as 25, 34, 49 or 66 year olds - (with an even spread of older, younger or no siblings).

Determining what makes someone lean to either Sam or Dean might just need to be filed in the too hard basket...;)

Comments

[fourtenpm.livejournal.com]

it's more like 40 year old girls.

[ash48.livejournal.com]

I'm thinking you could be right..;)

[runedgirl.livejournal.com]

That's so interesting - of course you're right, it might just say more about your flist, but I wonder if a show built around sibling devotion might just appeal strongly to people with siblings, and especially to older siblings, who are often all about being the 'protector' of younger siblings, or at least lean toward over-responsible in some way. I can relate to those dynamics as the oldest of three.

I do think there are plenty of teenagers in SPN fandom, but I don't think the majority are 14 by any way of calculating. My guess is that different niches of fandom draw a different demographic, so it depends on 'where' you're looking, whether it's an online space or a 'real life' one.

[ash48.livejournal.com]

I think the "where" is very important. I suspect it'd be a different result if the poll was done purely on tumblr for example. I

And I am totally fascinated by sibling relationship and spn watchers. I'd love to be able to broaden the survey to see if the trend continues.

[gateslacker.livejournal.com]

I do think it is interesting that so many seem to fall into the eldest sibling category, which I fall into, myself (sortof, I have quite a few older half siblings but they were not there and I am the eldest in my set)

And, yeah, I certainly was expected to "set an example" and I was the one expected to be responsible and act mature. At 12, I was also given the caregiver responsibility of my 8 year old sister and newborn brother because both of my parents worked, though I do remember being that person long before my brother was born.

I didn't mean to go into a life history and all but, given all of that, you'd think I'd lean more towards Dean. (And like most fans, I'm a Samgirl by the narrowest of narrow margins.) I do "get" Dean more easily and all he has to do is cry the one manly tear and I'll forgive him of most anything. His scenes after Cold Oak, sitting next to his dead brother, break my heart into tiny little shards every single time I watch them. And, I don't know why Sam's arc draws me in a little bit more. At first I thought it was because of the pilot and Jessica and, yeah, I can relate to that sort of loss on a personal level. But then I kept leaning towards his character.

For many years I've tried to figure out some sort of pattern to the characters I gravitate towards and even though, sometimes, I can see certain similarities in the character type it's never really cut and dried.

As for fangirls, and even fanboys, the media tends to stereotype. Badly. So, I pay no attention to anything they say.

[ash48.livejournal.com]

Yeah - I don't think it's cut and dried either. I have no idea why I'm drawn to the younger characters - probably my protective nature and maybe the responsibility I feel toward younger people (I'm thinking my students more than my siblings though). And I do love his story arc. ;)

And wow - that sounds like a big responsibility for a 12 year old. I imagine it makes someone grow up very quickly.

[ayane42.livejournal.com]

very interesting!!!

yeah, i'm a Sam girl because he's just so tortured (not that Dean doesn't do tortured just as well...) and i think for me it's more a maternal thing than a sibling thing.

[ash48.livejournal.com]

Sooo tortured...and yeah. I'm thinking you might be on to something about it being maternal. Now I need to do a poll about whether people have children....(probably won't though..;D)

xx

[irishkate.livejournal.com]

Interesting - I'm a youngest and totally a Dean girl. I tolerate Sam but mostly think of him as a twit. He's the foil against which Dean looks good bad or indifferent. I tend to forget he is a character in his own right.

[ash48.livejournal.com]

ack! hides eyes "I tolerate Sam but mostly think of him as a twit. I tend to forget he is a character in his own right." Wow, I reckon that would make watching the show pretty tricky seeing Sam like that. But I've always maintained that each person has the right to look at the characters and the show in their own way. Sorry to hear you think of Sam as a twit though. Hee...I've heard him called many things but never that.

[irishkate.livejournal.com]

Yes - I'm sorry to say that since I know you do like him. It does make the show interesting and there are time I like Sam and like his story arc but......

[yourlibrarian]

Combining your age-related poll to this topic, I'd be interested to hear how many people have kids and if that affects their brother preference.

[ash48.livejournal.com]

I would be really interested to know if that were a factor. Maybe one day I'll create that poll...;)