Through the use of several rhetorical devices, Chua supports, as well as weakens, her claim and expresses a different, controversial way of parenting. An important element in Chua’s argument is her ethos. She is clearly an intellectual individual, given that she is a professor at Yale University. Putting aside her credentials, this essay brings forth a distinct character. From the start, she identifies herself as a tough and strict “Chinese mother”. Throughout the piece she uses several personal experiences that support this assertion. The reader recognizes a sense of confidence from Chua as she repeatedly contrasts Western-parenting ideals from Chinese-parenting ideals. As far as her credibility as an author, it is questionable. She …show more content…
It is very biased statement. There is no way to interpret how her daughter was really acting. Already having examples of Chua’s ethos from this piece, it is practical to assume she is exaggerating. Chua’s diction is also troubling, especially when she writes, “All decent parents want to do what’s best for their children.” What are “decent parents” and what is “best” for any child? She does not elaborate on these key terms. It is the beginning of an argument on definition. Like in the case of Chua’s exaggeration, there is no way to determine what qualities a good parent has. There is no way for every parent to agree on a list of things that are best for children. Another technique the author uses to get her point across is repetition. Numerous times throughout her essay Chua repeats two words at the beginning of a sentence, “By contrast…” She is making it very clear that there are differences between Western parents and Chinese parents. This is effective because the reader is constantly reminded that these two types of parents are not comparable in Chua’s mind. There is also a bit of repetition in terms of actions of the author. It seems like there is a cycle of Chinese parenting in her life. She raised her daughters the way her parents raised her. Chua’s father called her “garbage” when she acted inappropriate and Chua called her daughter
In the writing of, America’s Top Parent, Elizabeth Kolbert outlines the parenting strategies of different mothers. Most notably, she talks about the “Chinese Mother,” which does not technically mean this individual must be of Chinese descent. Throughout the essay, Kolbert talks about another essay, Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother. The author of that essay, Amy Chua, believes in a binary world. Meaning that there are two kinds of mothers, “Chinese Mothers”, and “Western” mothers. Chinese mothers believe in extreme parenting, whereas Western mothers “think they are being strict when they insist that their children practice their instruments for half an hour a day” (Kolbert). On the other hand, Chinese mothers have much more specific rules
In discussions about raising children in different cultures between Chinese and Western families, Chinese mothers and Western mothers raise their children differently from each other. Amy Chua, in her essay entitled “How Chinese Mothers Are Superior,” argues that Chinese mothers are extremely more strict and harsh when it comes to parenting their children’s self-esteem while Chinese mothers do not while they assume “strength, not fragility” from their children. She also believes that it is necessary to limit the children in their daily lives in order to achieve greatness and honor to their family. Amy Chua is led to this conclusion due to research and examples of her own life as a Chinese daughter as well. My own view on the issue is that Chinese
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.
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.
Both stories investigate the difference between American and Chinese parenting styles from two women’s point of view – Hanna Rosin and Amy Chua.
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.
The mother in “Two Kinds”, is culturally accustomed to raising a child to be obedient and expects her daughter to bare her extreme parenting measures. With the daughter’s mother coming from China she
The stories "Why Chinese Mothers are Superior" by Amy Chua and "Two Kinds" by Amy Tan portray how children are raised in Chinese-American culture and what beliefs predominate in Chinese-American communities. In Chinese-American culture, mothers approach raising their children differently from many other American parents. While there are many similarities among these Chinese parents, variation can still be seen in the level of persistence and determination each individual parent pours into their parenting. These differences in persistence can be what make the difference in the results.
The next big difference concerns extracurricular and social activities for children. Chua opposes sleepovers and play dates. Like Rosin, if I had children I would definitely allow them to have sleepovers. Throughout my life some of my best memories of me and my friends revolved around them. Sleepovers and play dates (especially) are an essential part of childhood because it helps with social and trust skills. The next good topic Rosin mentioned was “the oddest part of Ms. Chua’s parenting prescription is that it exists wholly apart from any passion or talent.” (Rosin) If you are going to play an instrument it should be for the love of it and not the “fame” or awards. According to Chua “Chinese parents believe they know what is best for their children and therefore override all of their children’s own desires and preferences.” They also believe their children owe them everything and must repay them by obeying them and making them proud. Chua gives the example of when her daughter was seven and could not play a piano piece properly, Chua threatened to give away her dollhouse piece by piece, not give her food, Christmas or Hanukah presents, or birthday parties until she got the piano piece right.
Chua initiates her ethos by presenting to the reader that her parenting styles are ideal because she has raised a successful child. While Chua does this, she also gives meaning to the phrase “Chinese mother” since she knows that not all Chinese parents use the same style. Chua says she is “using the term “Chinese mother” loosely” because she “know some Korean, Indian, Jamaican, Irish, and Ghanaian parents who qualify too” (Chua 1). Even though most Chinese parents are firm and use the same styles, Chua knows it’s not that way with all parents.
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
Childhood is the foundation of an individual’s growth; it will create the mindset that the child will take on for a substantial portion of or even their entire life. Raising a child in a very strict manner is a lottery-esque upbringing; it can set them for life or it can haunt them until their grave. The two articles, “Complexion,” by Richard Rodriguez and “Why Chinese Mothers Are Superior,” by Amy Chua, factor in how these writers got through their childhood and the results of what they went through. Chua and Rodriguez both endured stricter parenting during their childhoods, however, their experiences and their parents focus on how they should act sets apart how their maturity developed. Chua and Rodriguez both displayed in their articles
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
In Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother, Yale professor Amy Chua describes her “Chinese” method of parenting and why Chinese parents are able to raise highly successful children. In the book, she describes her style of teaching and disciplining her children, which caused many readers to take offense. Many people have a serious problem with Chua’s method of parenting; they believe she is much too harsh and even borders on abuse in the way she raises her daughters. In an article published in the New York Times, journalist David Brooks describes how he feels Chua is not allowing her daughters to experience things that are potentially more important than school, such as learning to be social. David Brooks makes an interesting and compelling argument against Chua, and he is right in his opinion that developing social skills is more important than academic success.
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.