Why Chinese Mothers Are Superior
Writer:Amy Chua
1. According to Chua, how do Chinese child-rearing practices prepare children for life?
The essay does an immense comparison between the Chinese parents and Western parents. Chinese seem to produce children who display academic excellence and successful in every field. But Western parents think they are being strict but less than Chinese because Western parents think that they should not stress on children emotions.
The Chinese parents understand that nothing is fun until they are good at anything. They do not let their children go until they get perfection on it. Chinese parents are direct to demand as from children. But Westerners only ask for try their best because they are always worried about whether they disappointed the kids. The Chinese parents prepare their kids for their life better because they are different with the Westerners in the following three points
1. Western parents are worried about their children's psyche or self-esteem But the Chinese parents demand perfect grades in any cost and for that they abuse them bluntly without any care of self-esteem of child
ii. The Chinese parents believe that their kids owe them everything and children must spend their lives repaying their parents by obeying them and making them proud. But the Western parents think differently. Children do not choose their parents so the parents have their duty own duty over the children, the Western parents believe.
ii. The Chinese parents believe that they know what is best for their children. But Western parents think that they leave their children to choose their own life. The Chinese children even cannot think about boyfriend or girlfriend upto their high school age.
2. What points does Chua emphasize in her conclusion?
Chinese parents want perfection from their child in every performance from academic to sports. They try to force the children to get always As. It does not mean that Chinese parents don't care about their children, they would give up any thing for their children.
Western parents only become careful about the children's self-esteem and let them free. But the Chinese parents don't let them give up their self-esteem. Chinese parent believe that their task is to built children's self esteem and fight back. Asian indifferent to their kid's true interests. But Chinese mothers secretly believe that they care more about their children and are willing to sacrifice much more for them. Chua concludes on the belief that both parties have misunderstandings. Because all decent parents want to do what's best for their children. And the Chinese do it differently.
The western parents try to respect their children's individuality, encouraging them to pursue their true passions, supporting their choices and providing positive environment. But the Chinese believe that the best way to protect their children is by preparing them for the future, letting them see what they're capable of and arming them with skills, work habits and confidence.
Amy Chua ends her essay with a balance and in positive way. It is a best way to end the essay because no parents in the world would expect bad and unsecured future. The title "Why Chinese Mothers are Superior" is an irony to the Western thinking. The Chinese mothers are not superior but they are different in the way the Western mothers usually think. Chinese parents believe that the parents must give 'work skill', 'work habit' and 'inner confidence' to their children for giving good parenting.
3. What preconceptions about Chinese mother does Chua think westerners have? Do you think she is right about this?
Chua believes that many westerners believe that Chinese mothers are over bearing and indifferent to their children's need. According to Chuha, many Chinese parents push their children to work hard to get at things because they believe that, despite the resistance the child may have at first, the praise and satisfaction that comes from this hard work will make it worth it. Thus giving them motivation to work at the skill even harder. The western mothers think that the Chinese mother never praise and always want perfection from them.
The western mothers always praise the children and motivate them to be a perfect. But on the other hand the Chinese women never get satisfied until they get As. The Chinese women believe that until and unless the children get the perfection in their studies, the mother's never praise them. On the other hand, the western women are always worried about the children's self-esteem. For the Chinese parents, becoming best is always fun. Until and unless the children are best in education, that can't be fun for them. Practice and more practice is crucial for the Chinese women. The Chinese parents aren't worried about the children's psyche. The Chinese mothers believe that their children owe them everything and they must do the things that repay their parents by obeying them and making them proud. The Chinese parents think that the parents are best to know everything for the kids but western them do their choice.
I think these all are the misunderstanding. But the parents whoever are they, they think and want best for their child. These preconceptions are wrong and sometimes misleading. The Chinese just have a totally different idea of how to do that. It is only Chinese mother's belief that it is the best way to protect their children is by preparing them for the future. Chua is right about comparing the parents and westerns' belief which are only the misconceptions.