Parenting Styles Across Cultures

There are many different types of parenting styles across cultures, some that may not even be included in Baumrind’s (1971) tripartite typology. However, there are two main parenting styles that are seen across many different cultures. These include authoritarian and authoritative parenting. Authoritarian parenting represents a strict environment, where parents view children as good or bad, right or wrong, and are considerably critical of their behaviors and failures. Parents perceive the world to be black or white. Everybody in the family must behave in an orderly fashion and cannot disobey the rules of the house. Children are often perceived as non-equals, and are encouraged to suppress their emotions. This style of parenting is highly characterized
While authoritarian parenting is motivated by an external need to exert control over their child’s actions, authoritative parenting is motivated by values of responsibility and freedom. They try to socialize their children to learn and accept these values. They like to nurture and show respect to their children, and expect maturity and cooperation which in turn offers emotional support to the child. Authoritarian parents are better at enforcing rules, and exerting their will over their children. Unfortunately, this kind of parenting results in more stressed mothers, and children with lower self-esteem who later in life try to fit and belong in their social worlds. Both parenting styles have their pros and cons, but authoritative parenting has shown to have more positive outcomes for children. This parenting style is recommended by most Western and traditional parenting
Adolescence in Western culture is portrayed as a time of turmoil, violence, delinquency, defying of authority figure and increased risk of substance abuse and drugs. Adolescents rebel in two ways, through non-conformity and noncompliance. Some forms of rebellion can be negative, self-defeating and self-destructive behaviors; such as refusing to do school work, allowing impulse to overrule judgement, pushing away those who care, and rejecting positive self-interests that supports self-esteem. However, I disagree that this form of rebelliousness is exhibited by all adolescents across the world. Not only because studies have shown evidence to rebut this belief, but because not all adolescents develop similarly. Adolescent development has received a negative stigma throughout the years, but there are distinct and positive ways that adolescents develop. Adolescence is a normal part of one’s life span, that entails the onset of puberty and emergence of adulthood. As adolescents emerge from childhood development, they seek to forge their own identities. This is a stressful time in their life because they must overcome many temptations and tribulations. Despite that, not all adolescents adhere or succumb to the use of violence and antisocial activities. Many