Culture and Parenting

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In my previous blog, Parenting Styles, I mention Amy Chua's Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother. Tons of controversy surrounded Chua's book as many people disapproved of her harsh authoritarian method of parenting as a Chinese-American mother. Personally, I can understand some of the cultural differences related to parenting. I was raised by an Asian mother and an American father. Both of my parents were strict and loved me very much. They just had completely different ways of raising me. My mom can be categorized as the authoritarian parent who expects no less than perfection. My dad can be classified as the authoritative parent, who has high expectations but at the same time understands being perfect isn't everything.

Now that I am a mom, I can appreciate both types of parenting styles and can understand that culture has an influence on the style of parenting. The ideals and values that were instilled in parents are then passed along to their children. Both of my mom's and dad's parenting methods entail high expectations and standards. However, their value systems shaped the way that they raised me.

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As a part of my mom's Asian culture, it is expected that children will succeed in school. This value is so deeply embedded that it can almost be described as second nature for children to follow through with their parents' expectations. The idea of family and community takes precedence over the individual's needs. It is considered shameful to oppose this belief. Therefore, children more readily conform to the demands of their parents as this is considered the cultural norm. In the article, Do Asians Push Their Kids?, the authoritarian style of parenting doesn't seem so harsh.

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Representative of the culture in the United States, my dad emphasized the importance of people being recognized as individuals who have their own ideas, thoughts, and opinions. He liked to hear my input and ideas and encouraged me to be creative. The goal was to celebrate freedom and the significance of being an individual. As a result, the value of independence impacts the type of parenting. The authoritative style proves more effective since parents respect the space of their child while upholding their principles.

I only understand these differences from my own personal experiences growing up in a culturally mixed household.

Do you think that culture impacts the way a parent raises their child?

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