Why Chinese Mothers Are Superior, Essay Example

Introduction

This article is instrumental in explaining how to raise a successful child; one who is disciplined; obedient to parents and still has freedom. Amy Chua’s account of why ‘Chinese mothers are superior’ claims that her daughters were never allowed to attend a ‘sleepover have a play date; be in a school play; complain about not being in a school play; watch TV or play computer games; choose their own extracurricular activities; get any grade less than an A not be the No. 1 student in every subject except gym and drama; play any instrument other than the piano or violin; not play the piano or violin’ ( Chua, 2014, p.1).

Significantly, these are cultures modern westerners have removed from their parenting patterns. Children parent parents. Often it would appear that parents have to be obedient to children rather than children being obedient to parents. This is in order to avoid being accused of abuse; injustice and breaking the law. Today statistics show where more children are in the juvenile system; foster care; school drop outs and seldom make A^s

Argument

While the Chinese mother analysis of parenting may be a foundation for successful Chinese offspring as well as an emerging vibrant economy for the society one virtue the Chinese mother has to her advantage is the social structure administration, which gives her the authority to discipline her children. Waldman, however, argues that activities such as sleepovers and quitting were allowed in her Jewish culture, but children were also successful (Waldman, 2014).

It can still be argued that these are practices have dwindled in modern westerners’ parenting patterns. Chinese mothers are superior from the standpoint of maintaining tradition and allowing these traditional methods to direct the way they raise children in this present generation. The practices they uphold as being the best parenting strategies are now considered obsolete and psychologists argue that they may be too stringent bringing the best out of children, but Waldman, Ayelet said that she allowed her children to do all that want prohibited in the Chinese parenting culture (Waldman, 2014) .

For example, Levine, argues that parents must find a source of balance though parental involvement ultimately, offering some degree of autonomy so children can learn to make decisions for themselves. Other arguments are that in extreme case children who are confined may mot excel while those who have the freedom to choose intuitively could develop their gifts and talents more efficiently. Madeline continues to contend that authoritative parents do create some degree of motivation for development of excellence in their children (Madline, 2014).

Further, while the Chinese mother is classified as the best by Amy Chua psychologists have put forward strong arguments against it.  For example, evidence based studies conducted by Dr. Carol Dweck confirmed that children rasied by authoritative parents are more successful because they are psychologically motivated towards excellence. These parents exercise their authority positively by reinforcing the strengths of their children and supporting the emergence of dormant virtues.

Conclusion

These theories contradict the authority established in Amy Chua’s account of Chinese’s mothers being superior. From my perspective it is how authority is used in producing success. While a Chinese child may get all A^s in every subject still the world do not know how may are maladjusted psychologically being programed to act and behave in a certain way.

Works cited

Chua, Amy. Why Chinese Mothers are superior. Pdf.  2014. Print

Madeline, Levine. Raising Successful Children.  Pdf. 2014. Print

Waldman, Ayelet. In Defense of the Guilty, Ambivalent, Preoccupied Western Mom. Pdf. 2014. Print