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Summary Of Amy Chua's Article Why Chinese Mothers Are Superior

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Amy Chua a renowned author and professor of Law at Yale, produces an article that a majority will no doubt find controversial, others exciting and others yet down right offensive. The article, “Why Chinese Mothers are Superior,” published on 8th January 2011 in The Wall Street Journal, engages in an exposition of what she considers the Chinese, and essentially ideal model to parenting is, while at the same time launches a scathing attack on the Westerner’s approach to parenting. Although the article is quite controversial, and some of the narratives provided quite shocking, I do agree with some of Amy Chua’s assertions and proposals regarding parenting.
Amy Chua begins by stating the fact that Chinese parents are so good at raising stereotypically successful children is not a coincidence, but …show more content…

The basis of success is, therefore, defining specific areas that the parent wants the child to excel in, such as academics and very specific extra-curricular activities (violin and the piano), having very lofty expectations and making the child aware that nothing less than excellence will be accepted, and forcing the child to engage in rote repetition of the tasks or skills required to master the selected area. With the exception of her recommendations regarding how to go about motivating the child to engage in rote repetition, I agree with the other techniques adopted by the Chinese parents to ensure success. Personally, I do not feel that it is necessary to insult, or even castigate children, even those as young as 7 years of age into doing something, as I believe that it is possible to effectively motivate a 7 year old, or any child without castigation. An even simpler approach to ensuring rote repetition, could be the use of reinforcement and the instillation of a predictable

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