The Joy Luck Club And Amy Chua's Why Chinese Mothers Are Superior

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

One common question that occurs in the world with parenting, is how do Chinese children almost always succeed. Well the answer definitely does not lie within the stereotypical assumption of an average Chinese child’s life consisting of ping pong, karate, and casually playing the piano. In contrast to belief, a leisurely structured childhood is the exact opposite of what most Chinese children endure during the early stages of their life. Demanding success, Chinese parents expect nothing but excellence from the time you exit the womb. Chinese parents enforce strict rules and guidelines for their children to follow, and do not shy away in their punctuality whatsoever.

In the article “Why Chinese Mothers Are Superior” the author Amy Chua believes that by not allowing their kids to do a lot of things that normal children can do, Chinese mothers produce the smartest children. Some of the things they don’t allow their children to do are attend sleepovers, be in a school play, get a grade less than an A, and choose their own extracurricular activities. Chinese mothers are not superior but abusive because their methods seem to seclude them from learning the communication skills needed for success in their child's adulthood, it can hinder the relationship they have with their children, and can sometimes lead their children to develop thoughts of suicide.

Amy Chua, a Yale professor, wrote the piece “Why Chinese Mothers are Superior” sparked disbelief and fury in America after it was published in 2011. Chua raises her children in what would be, a brutal and harsh way for Western parents. In Chuas writing piece, she does not convey how her parenting style is better, because she fails to make a logical bond reader due to the fact that her parenting style may be seen as harsh, or even a disputable way to bring up a child. Chuas parenting technique comes from China, this includes a harsh and meticulous approach to all school work, and of the instrument the parent chooses for the child. She believes that this a much more superior way of parenting, compared to Western parenting, Chua provides

In January 2011 the Wall Street Journal published an article called “Why Chinese Mothers Are Superior” (WRAC 261-265), it was an expert from a book written by Amy Chua, and was soon the topic of much controversy. Chua came under much criticism for the way that she was raising her children. Many people though the way she was raising them was very much out of line. I for one think that Chua was only trying to instill in her children what she thought was important; even so, some of her tactics may have been a bit brash.

Kim claims that even though Chua uses the phrase “tiger mother” loosely, it does not mean that the majority of Chinese American parents are tiger parents. For instance, Kim “demonstrates that tiger parenting is not a common parenting profile in a sample of 444 Chinese American families” (Kim). Kim also mentions in her paper an eight- year long study on Chinese American families that live in northern California, and have collected information from them. What Kim learned from her study and stated, was that most of the parents turned out to be “supportive” and “essay going”, yet only a few parents the smallest percentage within this study turned out to be using the “harsh” parenting style. Since most of the parents in the study were found using a supportive method, Kim mentions that the parenting style has changed.

Amy Chua is a Harvard educated lawyer who wrote a book about how “Chinese mothers” do a better job parenting than their counterparts “Western mothers”. In Chua's book she tells the readers about how there are two types of parenting styles either "western mothers" or "Chinese mothers" and why “Chinese mothers” are better parents. Chua puts herself into the category of a "Chinese mother" and then goes onto talk about how this is clearly the better teaching style of the two. Amy Chua uses personal stories from when she was raising her two kids, Sophia and Louisa to help her argument. When I finished reading the exert from Amy Chua’s book I came to one final conclusion about Amy Chua and “Chinese mothers” way of teaching. "Chinese mothers" should stop using such intense methods

“Confucius still lives in the hearts and minds of the most older Chinese, and the social values he taught remain the bedrock of mainstream Chinese society.” (De Mente, 33) To most Chinese parents, they are still very traditional, especially in raising their children. However, it may not be well receive and appreciate by their westernized children. Amy Tan, a famous American born Chinese writer, often discusses how she struggled to accept her mother’s strict parenting when she was young. Thus, their relationships were strained because they always argue.

As we all know maternal love and affection transforms through every language and ethnicity across the world. However, Amy Chua aggressively seems to criticize American parenting beliefs and styles in her article “Why Chinese Mothers Are Superior” while Hanna Rosin defended what she considers to be her traditional American way to raising a child in her article“Mother Inferior” Though Chua and Rosin seem to have the same intensity of dedication when it comes to raising their children they also have opposing views on extracurricular activities, their definition of scholastic achievement, discipline practices and self-esteem support. When it comes to extracurricular activities t this option does not exist for the children raised in the Chua’s home.

The articles Why Chinese mothers are superior (Chua, 2011), and ‘Tiger Mom’ study says both Amy Chua and her critics have a point highlight the generalized difference between Asian-Americans and European-Americans when it comes to parenting practices (Pappas, 2013). Both articles explain that “Tiger Moms” and Western parents have polarized

One day, Amy Chua decided to write an essay called, “Why Chinese Mothers Are Superior.” Amy Chua is a professor at Yale Law School. Chua is a Chinese woman with two daughters. In the essay, Chua compared the differences between Chinese and Western parenting styles. There are different ways of parenting being used everywhere; the four main parenting styles include, Authoritarian, Authoritative, Permissive, and Uninvolved. In the essay Chua made it clear that Western and Chinese parenting styles differ. I tend to agree, as well as disagree with the examples and statements Chua used to compare the way they differ. I believe Chua did an amazing job contrasting Chinese and Western parenting styles.

Raising a child has always been a disputable topic for Americans. Every parent as well as people who don’t even have kids, have their own opinion on how a child should be raised. In Amy Chua’s “ Why Chinese Mother are Superior”, we read about her life as a mother raising her children, and how it has affected her family as well as herself. She claims that by punishing a child and building them up will present them to their full potential, the end result will be rewarding with a confident and successful life. In the beginning, she expresses herself as a “Chinese mother”.

Are Chinese mothers superior? In the article “Why Chinese Mothers Are Superior” by Amy Chua, she narrates her experiences with the Chinese way of bringing up their children, and how this has affected her and her family. “Chinese parents” are known for rising outstanding kids, who are usually successful at whatever they do, but at what cost? Is it worth it?

“Academic achievement reflects successful parenting”(Chua 5). Although this principle may not be true to many cultures, this is what the Chinese society is bond and live up to. Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother communicates the different parenting style between the “Chinese mothers” and the Western parents.” In her memoir, Amy Chua discuss her unordinary and distinct ethos- by using diction and symbolism- to teach the audience the way of raising such stereotypically successful kids.

In Amy Chua’s essay “Why Chinese Mothers are superior?”, She discusses the difference between Tiger parenting -Chinese parents- and western parenting styles. Both Tiger parents and Western parents have effective parenting techniques but differ in many ways. Chua in her article describes the first primary difference to revolve around the concept of self-esteem. Tiger parents believe that their children need to be strong and be able to take an insult and assume: “strength not fragility.” Conveys the assumption that he or she is strong enough to handle insults. On the other hand, Western parents believe that shaming their children, will only damage his or her self-esteem. The second significant difference is the idea that he or she owes everything to their parents.