parenting
Amy Chua Stereotypes Parenting What makes a child excel? Amy Chua, in her work “Why Chinese Mothers are Superior”, writes to inform her readers that Chinese parents raise successful children because they are stricter than typical Western parents. She states that Asian parents hold higher standards, that Asian parents are more direct and even caustic in their reprimanding of their offspring, and that the Chinese believe children owe their parents everything is the cause of these differences. However, Chua greatly oversimplifies the issue of parenting, stereotyping both the Chinese and Western cultures, and she does not address the negative consequences of the Chinese parenting perspective.
Chua begins her argument with a list of what her children can and cannot do, as proof as to why they are successful. She sets up a Western v/s Chinese dichotomy, comparing Western parenting strategies to Chinese parenting strategies. While Chua admits that she has seen parents from other cultures follow similar protocols, she then precedes w dichotomy. Chua also provides examples of parental phrasing that is acceptable in Chinese culture, but is viewed as abusive in Western culture. She believes that Western parents are too “caught up in their own conflicting feelings about achievement” to make sure their children make straight A’s. (Chua 54-5) Chua opines that Chinese parents are not as concerned about their child’s self-esteem, and cites parental fealty as the impetus for Chinese children being driven to succeed. Her overall assessment seems to be that Chinese parents care more about their children’s success and do not allow failure to be an option.
Chua’s purpose was to inform readers about different cultural approaches to parenting, specifically comparing the Chinese and Western models of parenting. Chua does a great job detailing the Chinese point of view, their actions, and the logic behind these actions. However, Chua does commit several logical
Chua begins her argument with a list of what her children can and cannot do, as proof as to why they are successful. She sets up a Western v/s Chinese dichotomy, comparing Western parenting strategies to Chinese parenting strategies. While Chua admits that she has seen parents from other cultures follow similar protocols, she then precedes w dichotomy. Chua also provides examples of parental phrasing that is acceptable in Chinese culture, but is viewed as abusive in Western culture. She believes that Western parents are too “caught up in their own conflicting feelings about achievement” to make sure their children make straight A’s. (Chua 54-5) Chua opines that Chinese parents are not as concerned about their child’s self-esteem, and cites parental fealty as the impetus for Chinese children being driven to succeed. Her overall assessment seems to be that Chinese parents care more about their children’s success and do not allow failure to be an option.
Chua’s purpose was to inform readers about different cultural approaches to parenting, specifically comparing the Chinese and Western models of parenting. Chua does a great job detailing the Chinese point of view, their actions, and the logic behind these actions. However, Chua does commit several logical
Bibliography: Chua, Amy. “Why Chinese Mothers are Superior”. The Blair Reader: Exploring Issues and Ideas, 8th ed. Ed. Laurie G. Kirszner and Stephen R. Mandell. Person: Boston. 2014. 52- 6. Print.