Why Chinese mothers are superior

Why Chinese Mothers Are Superior 1

Why Chinese Mothers Are Superior

Dheyaa AL-Karawi

Western Kentucky University


Why Chinese Mothers Are Superior

Why Chinese Mothers Are Superior, written by Amy Chua, she showed the extent of

the difference between Chinese parents and Western parents in the field of raising children.

According to this article, Chinese mothers set the basic rules that all Chinese children must

obey these rules in order to reach their goals and achieve success. In addition, the author used

the example from her life to improve her viewpoint. She has not allowed her daughters,

Sophia and Louisa, to do some activities; such as, attending a sleepover, having play date,

watching television, playing computer games, or even choosing their own extracurricular

activities. Yes, Amy Chua believes that their children can be the best students and their

academic achievements would reflect successful parenting. She explained that nothing is

pleasurable until they were good at it; therefore, to be great at anything they had to work

hard. She thinks that children by themselves would never want to work that is why parents

should ignore their children's preferences because children will probably resist things that

look hard at the beginning, which was where western parents tend to give up. On other hand,

Chinese parents believe that their children need to have coherent training imposed upon them

in order to be successful.

In this article, Amy Chua began her argument by writing her statement, "A lot of

people wonder how Chinese parents raise such stereotypically successful kids. They wonder

what these parents do to produce so many math whizzes and music prodigies, what it's like

inside the family, and whether they could do it too" (p. 1). At first glance, the reader might

think that he or she will find some of the characteristics or features, which have made

Chinese children; children with supernatural intelligence. Instead, the reader will find that the

writer focused on the use of some harsh tactics to force their children to study and get an A

grade, and children will be punished if they don't.


Moreover, Amy Chua's viewpoint did not base on the some actual experiences of

Chinese parents with their children. On other hand, Amy Chua did not use enough evidences

to support her viewpoint that Chinese children are being the best in the world because of the

way that their parents used to treat them.

Alternatively, she built her assumptions on her personal experience with her two

daughters without making a survey on the experiences of the success of other Chinese

parents; and the proper ways that they used to encourage their children to excel and succeed

in their educational journey.

In addition, Amy Chua used bad logic when she attacked western parents' behavior

with their children; and the ways that the Westerners use to raise their children. In contrast,

she believes that the reasons behind the success of Chinese children are the cruelty and the

stricter of their parents by preventing them from practicing some of the activities they want

and forcing them to focus on their education only.

Also, the article reflected a negative view about Chinese parents and how cruel they

are when the author criticized and attacked the Westerners' perspective who believes that the

use of cruelty would lead to hurting their children's feelings and believe if they respect their

children and encourage them to study, that is the reason, which leads to success.

However, Amy Chua stirs up a positive impression in her argument when she pointed

out that the children owned their success and superiority to their parents, because kids would

be helpless without the care and sacrifice of parents and their eagerness to make their kids'

future better.

Overall, the article was interesting reading. The author argued the differences between

Chinese parents and Western parents in the field of raising children. In addition, she pointed

out the reasons behind the success of Chinese kids is the strictness of their parents. Also, she

argued the Westerners to get rid all of their children's desires. Nevertheless, she offered a


positive view, and she believes the children have achieved their successes through the

sacrifice of their parents.


Reference

Chua, A. (2011, January 8). Why Chinese mother are superior. Wall Street Journal. Retrieved

September 14, 2014, from http:// www.wsj.com/article

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Why Chinese mothers are superior