A Letter to Amy Chua

Amy Chua stirs up a controversial topic of the differences between Chinese and Western parenting styles in the article “Adapted from Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother”. One may believe that the Chinese way is too harsh as others may believe Western parents are too lenient. Any parent can relate to one or both parenting styles that Chua is discussing. This article is reaching out to parents who are unaware of the Chinese and Western parenting styles. To give the readers a better understanding of how each parenting style works. This article was based on Chua’s personal experiences as a Chinese parent.

I can see the positive and negative in both methods. The fundamental problem with all parents is selfishness. When Western parents don't do enough to help their kids reach their potential, they are selfish, and probably too busy doing what we feel like doing. And when Chinese parents force kids to do what will bring the parents praise, they are selfish too. I think that the correct approach is a balance between Chinese and Western parenting, with the focus being on commitment to your children. If parent can find the balance between these two types then both sides will have succefull children. I really believe Western parental method and Chinese parental method can both be used. You can't be too soft and too hard. You have to balance it out.

Amy Chua suggests that it is important for the children to acknowledge their parents and respects them. Chua expands on this positions when she states “Despite [the Chinese] parents’ brutal demands, verbal abuse, and disregard for their children’s desires, Chinese kids end up adoring and respecting their parents and wanting to care for them in their old age” (Chua 211). This shows that even though it seems like Chinese parents and their children are always bickering and arguing about things, it is only out of love and respect. Although the relationship between daughter and child in this book seems bleak, it is clear that Amy loves her kids very much and would never imagine losing them. The love conveyed between Amy and Lulu is evident because after they fight, they sit down and laugh together. Amy Chua considers herself a typical Chinese mother who aspires that someday her children will grow and take care of her and her husband.

From infancy to adult, people are making decisions all day long. How long to study for the upcoming test? What sport to play? What college to attend? As choices are made, often goals are set to ensure maximum potential is achieved. This process of decision-making and goal setting is overbearing shadowed by the authoritarian style of parenting.

Questions have been raised on whether Chinese parenting raises more flourishing children than Western parenting. Despite what people think, in Amy Chua's essay “The Roar of the Tiger Mom”, she portrays the differences between the beliefs of Chinese parenting and Western parenting. Chua introduces the views of a Chinese parent compared to the views of a Western parent. The methods used by Chinese mothers in raising their children are drastically different from Western mothers. Each defends their methods and believes the other group is doing their job poorly. In the end, both types of parents just want one thing-- successful children.

Since the seventeenth century, children have been given a voice in the family home; by letting them to make their own choices. Reference This has changed the nature of childhood dramatically, which can be seen a positive and negative effect. It has enabled children to be more independent with decision making which prepares children more for adulthood; this is what childhood is ‘supposed’ to do. On the other hand, it can put too much burden on the child, meaning they are being treated more like an adult rather than a child.

I never felt as if one completely had a choice over their life and behaviors as a whole, because outside sources and events sometimes shape people to act a certain way or at least come off as so. For example, in elementary school there was always this one kid who would act out and completely disobey and disrespect all of the teachers at the school. He would curse and belittle them, as well as any student who was unfortunate enough as to cross paths with him. I never understood why, until his parents showed up at the school and acted the same exact way towards the teacher, completely disrupting class and shouting profanities. The same exact word choice as their son, which led me to believe that the way he was acting had been something he was taught and exposed to. Rather than being respectful and kind, he chose to act the same way his parents had towards that teacher, which makes me think that maybe that is all they taught him which led to him thinking it was okay and normal when in reality, it was the exact

Living in a household with western style parenting, I disagree with Amy Chua. Yes, your parents want you to do better but most do not run and blame it on the school or school system.

Parents influence their children in very many ways. Parents encourage desired behaviors and talents while discouraging those that are undesirable not necessarily to the children, but to the parents and adults in the real world.Desired behaviors are rewarded while undesirable traits and behaviors are met with punishment of some form. Our parents taught us how to be independent and to do things for ourselves. It was an advantage in that we don 't need to depend on other people to get things done and we don 't need to wait for an opportunity.This independence taught us to work hard for ourselves and to take charge of our own education and life.

It is true that the ways the parents raise their children will decide how well the children grow, especially the mothers who impact their children the most. There is no right or wrong in how a mother takes care of her children. All of them want the best for their children. The only difference is the level of intensity in how to raise a child. In Why Chinese Mothers Are Superior, Amy Chua, a professor at Yale Law School believes that the ways Chinese mothers raise their children are the most effective ways. Her main purpose of this article is to state the differences between Western mothers and Chinese mothers which

Because America is such a diverse country, there are many differences between cultures of various immigrant groups. Members of each culture, have their own beliefs and values regarding what they think is right. The cultural diversity allows for each person to have a different view of things. Amy Chua’s essay “Why Chinese Mothers are Superior,” she describes her way of parenting her two daughters following Chinese values about education. She explains how Western parents are much more lenient than Chinese parents with their children and education. Chua gives examples of how she raised her daughter Lulu and Sophia which lead them to achieve success. She makes comparisons between Western and Chinese parenting styles throughout the essay and concludes that both types of parents want the best for their children, but just approach parenting it in different ways. In the article, “Chinese vs Western Mothers: Q&A with Amy Chua,” Amy Chua is interviewed by Belinda Luscombe where she clarifies how her Chinese method of parenting did not hurt her children the way many readers thought it did. Chua explains that her relationship with her two daughters is very strong and believes there are many effective ways of parenting in addition to the Chinese approach. Chua’s essay shows the Chinese immigrant approach to parenting and gives insight into why so many children of Chinese parents are so successful. Discussing the cultural differences shows the risk of stereotyping groups where feelings

Chinese mothers being superior and any mother claiming that their way of parenting will always be biased. Every mother is going to think that their way of parenting is the best way. Especially parents that create a prodigy. It could be the parenting or the child was just born smart. Either way, that parent is going to claim they did something better than another parent, even though there is no way to prove it. There are too many factors that play into this topic to prove which parenting method is the most superior.

Parenting is different for everyone, but is any one way really better than the other? Amy Chua, a professor at Yale University, believes that the strict parenting style of Chinese mothers is the way to go. She believes that her strict and often harsh parenting style contributed to the success of her daughters. Chinese parents believe that if their children are successful, it is a reflection of the parents. Hanna Rosin, a contributing editor for the Atlantic, has very different views from Ms. Chua about the correct parenting style. Ms. Rosin believes that the more relaxed, nurturing, and self-led style of Western parenting is the better way to raise children. She believes that placing your children under immense pressure can produce

The generally accepted way in which children in a society are raised, constitutes its philosophical and social child rearing practice. Child-rearing research has focused on understanding differences in parent’s beliefs and values, characteristics of cultural socialization, and the implications of such variations. “Chinese parents traditionally stress their authority over their children and expect unquestioning obedience from them” (Chiu 1987). In America, a parent’s main focus is what they should do for their children to help them succeed in life; Chinese parents raise their children to do what is best for their parents and society. Significant differences were found in Chinese,

There is many questions on how to parent a child in order to help them be successful in life. Although parenting style various greatly, most all parents put into practice what regulations in which they think will help their child succeed in life. Some parents, known as Chinese parents are extremely strict, and on the other end of the spectrum there is western parents, who do not expect as much from their child. In Amy Chua’s “Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mom,” Chua explains what it is like to have Chinese parenting techniques. She attempts to justify the struggles, beliefs, and methods of Chinese parents, as compared to western parents, and how they both have the end goal - to prepare their child to succeed in life.