Why Chinese Mothers Are Superior

[karened]

Got this link from a friend who found it floating on facebook.

Third, Chinese parents believe that they know what is best for their children and therefore override all of their children's own desires and preferences. That's why Chinese daughters can't have boyfriends in high school and why Chinese kids can't go to sleepaway camp. It's also why no Chinese kid would ever dare say to their mother, "I got a part in the school play! I'm Villager Number Six. I'll have to stay after school for rehearsal every day from 3:00 to 7:00, and I'll also need a ride on weekends." God help any Chinese kid who tried that one.
 

Read more on Wall Street Journal online.

It's a fun read, but at many points it gets frustrating, because I'm Chinese, and I've seen tons of Chinese mothers who are not what she claims Chinese mothers are in her article.

In the end, I left the page thinking, "Great. Now every single caucasian reading that article is going to have their stereotypical characteristics reinforced - that the Chinese are restrictive, autocratic and unreasonable."

Comments

[heixin.livejournal.com]

I actually think it's perfectly true...especially in ABC families. My cousins are Americans and I've lived in the States for 2 years so I can see where she's coming from. XD

[karened.livejournal.com]

Maybe for Chinese mothers in ABC families.

But the article made it sound like the same applies for all Chinese families with Chinese mothers, which I cannot agree with.

I mean, were you prevented from taking part in CCAs that you like? Or from staying back after school?

And I know a lot of ppl with liberal parents who still succeed, academically or otherwise. It's not like how the article puts it: Chinese parents forbid this and that, and by doing that, they help their child succeed (academically...?).

[heixin.livejournal.com]

Also true. But I didn't think she wrote it to apply to all Chinese families and all Chinese mothers. She did make a disclaimer in the beginning of her article.

I also think we come from different generations. XD (Maybe our approach to the article is different?)

In my time, it was called ECA and we had to have 2, one of which had to be either a sport or a uniformed group. My dad gave me "advice" on which ECA I should join. (haha) I ultimately made my own decision but I know if I had joined some zuo bo ECA, my dad wouldn't have been happy. My parents didn't allow me to have sleepovers until JC and even then, reluctantly. They didn't force me to always get As but most of my friends had parents who had extremely high expectations, expecting their kids to be doctors or lawyers. Plus, when I was still teaching in SG, I met many parents who are just as controlling as the stereotype would suggest.

Not that I support the stereotype that exists of Chinese people but I see the humour in her article. I thought she was taking a stereotype (and there are enough Chinese people like that everywhere for the stereotype to stick) and poking fun at it. And, she was making fun of herself as well.

Also, I don't really mind the stereotype. I have a pretty low opinion of some Western parenting styles so I think they are free to make fun of mine. haha.

Ultimately, I felt that she was criticising both the Western as well as Chinese way of parenting. She never said which was better...I finished the article with the feeling that she meant, 'To each their own.' Judging from her success in her own life, I felt that she was proud of what she had achieved and that she felt she owed it in part to her Chinese heritage. I also felt she was defending the Chinese parenting style. In the West, it is seen as damaging to a child's self-esteem and all but from her experience, it isn't.

....it's really late at night here...I hope I'm making sense...hahaha..

[heixin.livejournal.com]

Yay! +♥

You're not being a creeper at all!
2am = ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

p.s. I don't have any 2am icons. Know where I can find some? ^___^

[xanderave.livejournal.com]

LOL that reminds me of this:



But that's for us last time. Unfortunately kids nowadays gosh the amount of pampered-ness makes me want to vomit blood.

[denise-dinc.livejournal.com]

You know, that description... really sounds like my mom before I turned 18 ^^;

[paranoid-faery.livejournal.com]

My parents never want to drive me anywhere. I take public transport to the airport. >_> And my childhood was just endless tutoring! But list 10 stereotypes, will somewhat fulfil some of them.

[showjuro.livejournal.com]

I'm glad I'm not the only one.
For the record, this saturday will be the first time my mum will allow me to take public transport with my friends. (not that i didn't do it before, she just didn't know about it)