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Chinese Mothers

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Submitted By chuymartin14
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“ Why Chinese mothers are superior”
Liliana Martin/w204551844
PSYC 2314: Mon-Tues 10:30-1:00
Summer 2015

“Chinese mother are superior” after hearing this quote it makes me feel angry and it makes me feel like if I was from a race or a country where we are less than or unworthy of being a mother as if my mother that is Mexican was underneath every Chinese mother. My first thoughts are; “Yes! Chinese people might be smarter and more stable than us Americans, I have heard about how Chinese parents are extremely disciplined and strict on the way they raise their children” but I have never thought they were better than my parents. I have never thought about anyone in particular being better than any other person but after reading this article” why Chinese mothers are superior” I can honestly say that Chinese mothers have an excellent way of raising their children and perhaps they have better styles on raising their children. I don’t consider them being superior but I do agree that many of their mother techniques are superior.

From generations and generation’s Chinese mothers have always strict to their children, a lot more strict than the average person. China, with over 1.370537 billion people (including Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan) as of April, 2011, is without doubt the most populous country in the world. It is also the oldest race in the world. Chinese government is almost as strict as mothers are with their children. It is a communist country where there is only one type of ruling and government power. One of their rulings that most of the Americans or southern Americans would disagree upon is on the fact that on rural areas in china, people can only have 1 child per couple. This policy in America would be viewed very wrong by almost everyone. According to the article “why Chinese mothers are superior “ by the explanations of the author, she believes that Chinese mothers are superior because Chinese mothers do what’s best for their children by restricting them play time and pushing the children to be their best academically and artistic. Chinese children and grown-ups have always usually been great academically. We consider them as being very smart people. They are costumed to be that way from past generations and typically we are all who we are because of our past generations, genes are passed on from generation to generation. Genes, environment and customs are also a big major on who we are as in today. I am not saying that people who aren’t Chinese aren’t capable of being as smart and hardworking as Chinese people are but I’m sure it will be harder for us to act the way Chinese mother’s act with their children and the way children respond to what the mothers say’s. Chinese mothers are accustomed to believe that the better the kid scores academically than the more successful the child will be and we all know that success brings nothing but happiness right?. Others who aren’t Chinese tempt to believe that happiness is found in other things like playing with their child and seeing that child smile. Sometimes people focus too much on working hard enough just so our children can have things that we never had material things. Culture and beliefs plays a big role on how a mother is with their child. Every mother wants to feel as they do a great job with their children and when the child does good than the parent feels good. Chinese mothers do great with that, the child success then the Chinese mother feels good and perhaps all that tough work was very well worth it.

What I admire the most is that they find the biggest satisfaction in the achievement’s and success of their children. I am almost sure that because of past generations it might not be that difficult for them to be the way they are with their children. In other words, they must most likely be used to that kind of pressure and encouragement. I really admire the fact that not just the child does not give up but the mother does not give up on the child. They both use an ongoing technique of pursuing and they both enjoy the pleasure of feeling like the best and not only that but being successful in whatever it is they will do in life. I really like how the Chinese mother does not for one instant gives in on a child’s cry or suffering of the tough part where we all feel “tired” and decide to take a break or distract ourselves. The mother is there to not allow the child to give up; therefore the child must not give up and will not give up no matter how many times the child felt like giving up as well as the mother giving up on encouraging the child. I am 100% that hard work always pays off and we love the feeling after it pays off. I can relate to Chinese mothers in all aspects of that. One of my priorities in life is to have one day my masters. Perhaps it will not be easy because of many factors but after I receive that certificate it will feel amazing and not just because I worked hard and suffer to get it but because I did it when perhaps I thought I couldn’t make it. ("China Facts: Chinese People, Language, Names, Etiquette and Holidays," n.d.)

Chinese mothers believe that being too strict with their children will make them narrow and successful but some studies suggest that it might not always turn out to be that way. Some studies shows that parents who are extremely strict and controlling, not allowing the child to speak their mind tempt to engage in bad behaviors are they grow up. Behaviors like stealing, hurting others and criminal behavior. ("Overly Strict, Controlling Parents Risk Raising Delinquent Kids," n.d.) We also have three types of parenting. A parent that shows no warmth and a lot of discipline, a parent that shows some warmth and some discipline and the parent that shows too much warmth and no discipline. Showing too much discipline and no warmth can harm the child not just emotionally but mentally. This is the reason why we should all start planning on what kind of parent we want to be because it might be a bit strange to change from no discipline to all discipline. After reading “why Chinese mothers are superior” it comes to my image my own mother. To me my mother is superior to any other mother. Even though my mother was raised in a farm with little education and raised by a mother and an alcoholic father that had 13 children. I can still say that my mother is superior in one way. Even though she made many motherly mistakes as I grew up, she always made sure we had food on the table with the help of my father. She is now my best friend and she is there for me at all times. She encourages me in her own way and she sees in me what not many can. She is loyal, respectful and truly my admiration.

“Why Chinese mother are superior” explains why they are superior to many but to me they are just excellent mothers and not the best mother. Fathers contribute in the child’s development in so many ways that we ignore how much they contribute when we read this article. This article only shows me and opens my mind to a very different and excellent way of raising a child. I will most defiantly learn from this because I do admire Chinese mother and in a way I do want to be like they are, to pursue the child to never give up even if it means that they will suffer, but I can also never forget the way I was brought up to be.

References
China Facts: Chinese People, Language, Names, Etiquette and Holidays. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.travelchinaguide.com/essential/getting_acquainted.htm
Overly Strict, Controlling Parents Risk Raising Delinquent Kids. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.webmd.com/parenting/news/20120223/overly-strict-controlling-parents-risk-raising-delinquent-kids

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