Analysis of the parenting ideas of Amy
Chua and Hanna Rosin – Comparison and contrast of their ideas in terms of their potential similarities and differences – Conclusion on their main difference and reflections drawn upon the reading of their articles in which they analyze their main parenting ideas
[The author’s name]
Abstract
This paper will present you with the main parenting ideas of two different writers. The parenting ideas that the paper will present you with are the parenting ideas of Amy Chua and the parenting ideas of Hanna Rosin. The paper will derive the parenting ideas of both writers from their articles published in The Wall Street Journal. The article written by Amy Chua is entitled ‘Why Chinese Mothers are Superior’ and it was published on January 8, 2011. The article written by Hanna Rosin is entitled ‘Mother Inferior?’ and it was published in The Wall Street Journal on January 8, 2011. These two articles describe two different, totally opposing approaches as far as parenting is concerned. The paper will describe the thematic core and the main structure of each one of the articles. Then, the paper will describe the differences of both parenting ideas. Last but not least, the paper will draw the conclusion on the main difference existing between the two different parenting approaches.
Key words: childhood, mother, parents’ expectations, demands, children’s
Analysis of the parenting ideas of Amy
Chua and Hanna Rosin – Comparison and contrast of their ideas in terms of their potential similarities and differences – Conclusion on their main difference and reflections drawn upon the reading of their articles in which they analyze their main parenting ideas
Hanna Rosin has written her article entitled ‘Mother Inferior?’ after the publication of Amy Chua’s article titled ‘Why Chinese Mothers are Superior’. It can be considered as the personal response of Hanna Rosin towards the parenting ideas of Amy Chua. Rosin’s article is the reflection of her own personal ideas as far as the upbringing of children is concerned. Also, Rosin’s article is a review of Chua’s ideas in terms of exposing her own personal view of the extent to which Chua’s ideas can be considered rational or justifiable within the field of upbringing. Being a mother herself, Rosin seems to be holding a totally point of view as far as obedience and imposition of rules on children are concerned. In the subtitle of her article Rosin writes that ‘Amy Chua has the diagnosis of American childhood exactly backward. Our kids do not need more drills and rules. They need to lighten up and roam free’. (Mother Inferior, Rosin, 2011). So, Rosin seems to focus on the need for children to experience more freedom in their lives.
Rosin begins developing her ideas and thoughts on parenting by exposing her thoughts on Chua’s book ‘Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother’. Chua in this book supports the idea that children have to be pushed to their limits so that they can enter an ongoing process of self-improvement. Rosin seems to use some irony in her critical attitude towards Chua’s belief. She describes the way in which her children behave in combination with the way she behaves towards her children. Rosin writes that she believes that “There are the fierce tigers who churn out child prodigies, and then there are the pussycats who waste their afternoons playing useless board games and get bested by their own toddlers.’’ . (Mother Inferior, Rosin, 2011). Rosin believes that she is the ‘pathetic Western parent that Mrs Chua describes’. (Mother Inferior, Rosin, 2011). She admits to preferring playing board games with her children rather than pushing them to study even more in order to achieve perfectionism in their performances. Then, Rosin goes on developing her ideas on children’s upbringing process by putting emphasis on the importance of empowering children’s independence and individual freedom. She goes back to remembering her own childhood. She remembers herself growing up with her friends in her neighborhood in queens with no surveillance by her parents at all. Maybe, according to Rosin, all the rules and the regulations we impose on children is the direct result of our own fears. Rosin goes on a further step in her thoughts. Maybe according to Rosin, the fear of failure hunts nowadays adults and this is why there are parents who have misunderstood parenting as a strict battle for success. But according to Rosin, children’s happiness is what is really important. Children’s happiness should be the top priority for parents. Parenting ought to be treated more like companionship rather that strict mastery, according to Rosin. Rosin says that ‘many children of this generation still have giant superegos and a mad drive to succeed. They want to run faster than their siblings, be smarter than their classmates and save the world from environmental disaster. In my household, it's a struggle to get my children to steal a cookie from the cookie jar without immediately confessing.’ (Mother Inferior, Rosin, 2011). It is clear that Rosin believes in the power of children and in the internal gifts and talents that children have. Parenting ought to be more like the process through which parents help children to discover themselves and get to know themselves better so that they can grow out to be mature, happy human beings. Rosin emphasizes on the fact that success cannot necessarily make people happy and emphasizes on the fact that happiness ought to be the top priority in people’s quest for making their lives meaningful.
The Parenting Ideas of Amy Chua as presented in her article ‘Why Chinese Mothers are Superior’
On the other hand, Amy Chua describes and analyzes a totally different idea on what parenting ought to be. Amy Chua believes that parenting is the process through which parents ought to define their children’s goals and lead them to be perfect in what they are doing. Amy Chua seems to believe that the most important thing in one’s life is being a high achiever. According to Amy Chua, ‘Western Parents have to struggle with their own conflicted feelings about achievement and try and persuade themselves that they are not disappointed in how their kids have turned out’. (Why Chinese Mothers are Superior, Amy Chua, 2011). According to Amy Chua there is a great difference between Western and Eastern civilizations. Amy Chua believes that Western people emphasize on the talents people have and carry in their inner selves rather than in the power to awaken talents and internal powers. So, Amy Chua believes that it is the parents’ responsibility whether their kids will become successful or not. Children ought to be treated in such a way that they realize the responsibility they have in order to grow up and become successful members of the society. Amy Chua believes that the more lenient or relaxing parents are, the less successful their children will turn out to be. Last but not least, Chua believes that being successful is what makes people feel happy and what makes their lives meaningful.
Analysis of the parenting ideas of Amy
Chua and Hanna Rosin – Comparison and contrast of their ideas in terms of their potential similarities and differences – Conclusion on their main difference and reflections drawn upon the reading of their articles in which they analyze their main parenting ideas
Conclusion
It is obvious that both writers are mothers and have followed different paths in the upbringing of their children. There is great difference in their approach of being parents. However, it is also obvious that both parents are interested in their children’s well-being. However, they are different in terms of the concept they find more important. Happiness seems to be holding a different meaning as far as they are concerned. Like any other issue of heated debate, it is clear that being a parent is not an issue that can treated only through one dimension. Parents ought to keep in mind that being a parent is one of the most difficult and challenging demands in life.
References
Chua, Amy, ‘Why Chinese Mothers are Superior’, The Wall Street Journal, January 11, 2011 derived from http://online.wsj.com/news/articles
Rosin, Hanna, ‘Mother Inferior? ’, The Wall Street Journal, January 15, 2011, derived from http://online.wsj.com/news/articles
