The Pros And Cons Of Asian Parenting

Most of the world has struggled, struggles, and will struggle with parenting and kids. The concern over how future generations are brought up is a profoundly important issue that is much debated. As teenagers are more and more exposed to other cultures and views, the way future generations are brought up will heavily impact humanity’s future, which is why parenting is so important worldwide. Throughout the ages, parenting has developed in many different ways. For some, more authoritarian parenting is preferred while others prefer more flexible ways to teach. In many western countries, emphasis is placed on independence and a child’s own decisions. However, families from eastern cultures tend to adopt more interdependent relationships and success

Nevertheless, that is not the case. The people who argue that Asian parenting is too severe maintain that even though Asian parenting has shown that academic results are higher, the children are treated too harshly by the parents and end up with no real satisfaction on their end. This is based on the common misconception that Asian parents are overbearing and overly demanding since the publishing of the memoir Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother, by Amy Chua, a professor of law at Yale Law School. For example, “To most of the American public, Chua is simply forcing her children toward parentally-defined success, which most believe is unlikely to lead to true happiness in children” (Wang). What Wang is saying is that most of those who read Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother had the impression that Amy Chua was only forcing her children to learn what she wanted them to learn instead of what made them happy. Despite all of that, “Chua’s two daughters are both successful and happy in school, in music and in sports” (Wang). Chua’s two daughters are both happy and successful despite all the criticism she got from the public, which shows that the Asian way she chose was the best for her children. If, on the other hand, parents decide to do the opposite and be more lax, it would be much more detrimental to a child’s health. In fact, the Bible says, “because the Lord disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in” (New International Version, Prov. 3:12). This implies that discipline is very important and in fact shows that the parent cares very much for the child’s future and wellbeing. If the parent does not discipline the child, the child could potentially grow up into an adult that does not know where are the limits and without self control. Asian parenting is not too harsh on children and does not negatively affect a child’s