Western and Eastern Parenting Styles - Essay Example

The book’s author uses the terms Western parents and Asian/Chinese parents loosely as claimed in the text to indicate that it is not a direct reference to individuals of his background. This is reiterated when she likens such parenting styles to other individuals from various regions of the world like Ghana and India. Despite this, the focuses on the terms western and Asian parents is because it is in the context of her experience, which she is relaying in her book. The main distinction that the author makes between these two methods of parenting is the level or degree of strictness that is exerted by parents on their children. According to the author, there is no limit to the extremes that she was willing to go to to ensure that her children achieved what she thought was required of her children. Chinese mothers are used as the blueprint for this parenting style but it does not mean the method of parenting is isolated in Chinese or Asian only mothers or parenting style. The parenting style is founded on strong Confucianism principles that emphasize self-excellence and internal strength (WLS.COM). It emphasizes summoning these strengths in the event of failure or adversity to facilitate success in any endeavor that they embark on in their lives. The Chinese mother’s philosophy cares only about the success that comes out of their unorthodox ways of encouragement. This philosophy seems to support the adage that states ‘the end justifies the means.’ The author states that children, who are raised through an authoritarian parenting style, come to appreciate the efforts made by their parents in compelling them to excel.

This is contrasted against the ‘Western’ parenting style that the author claims is keen on developing the self-esteem and creative side of their children. Unlike Chinese mothers who emphasize excellence in all academic fields except gym and drama, western parents are passive in this role (Jen, 178). This means that western parents’ emphasis on academic excellence is somewhat subdued compared to Chinese mothers who would go to any lengths to ensure that their children accomplish and achieve academic success. Western mothers believe in letting their children choose their way through academic courses they feel that they are good at, but this is different from Chinese mothers who do the choosing for their children. Western mothers argue that letting their children make their choices about what to pursue in academics and extracurricular activities helps improve and promote their creativity (Chua, 87). Chinese mothers on the other hand believe in nurturing their children’s creative skills to excellence in line with their perceptions of the appropriateness of these activities.

Chinese mother’s portrayal in the book by the author has elicited, by most parts, negative criticism for its disregard of morals that should govern parenting (Jen, 124). The author dismisses these claims because she believes that morals are meant to guide and help focus parenting efforts to successful fruition. The disregard for morals in parenting has been blamed for increased psychological problems that are characterized by low self-esteem and personality disorders. The is exemplified by one reader's reaction that states “Parents like Amy Chu are the reason why Asia-Americans like me are in therapy,” this was by Betty Ming Liu, who teaches journalism at NYU on her blog (WJS.COM). The ramifications of a Chinese mother in the context of the western mother are detrimental but constructive to the author and the Asian subcontinent. It can be arguably concluded by saying that to raise successful children one must become a Chinese mother. This is because, in today’s world, success is mostly gauged or measured in terms of academic success. This is because academic success ensures that someone can get good jobs, which ensures one can take care of their business or affairs. Failure to achieve academic success limits the chances of prosperity in today’s world hence the Chinese mother’s extreme emphasis on academic excellence.