Article 1

http://people.opposingviews.com/childrearing-beliefs-practices-indian-culture-8160.html

Child-rearing Beliefs and Practices in Indian Culture

by Marion Lougheed,

Child-rearing customs and beliefs are not the same for all Indians.

India is composed of a diverse population with assorted religious, political and cultural views on
child-rearing practices. With so many differences among Indians, it is impossible to ascribe a
unified set of customs and beliefs about child-rearing to the entire country. Influential factors on
child-rearing practices such as socioeconomic status, education and individual experience vary
from family to family.

Social Differences
According to Infochange, India has 375 million children. Around the turn of the millennium,
approximately 75 million children did not have adequate nutrition. This is one example of how
social differences can relate to discrepancies in lifestyle, including health, access to education
and attitudes toward child-rearing practices.

Another example of differing attitudes emerges from data gathered by the Berlin-Institut. In
some regions, such as Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, each woman has an average of more than four
children. In others, the average is less than two. These numbers reveal that differences exist
within smaller segments of the Indian nation.

Physical Closeness
Babyzone reports that Indian mothers spend a lot of time in close physical contact with their
young children. As babies, Indian children might receive a daily massage and sharing a parent's
bed is quite common. For the first six months, around 90 percent of mothers in India breastfeed,
according to Childinfo.org. Some continue to do so for up to two years, but the numbers drop off
sharply after the first half year of life. A 2008 University of Mysore study, "Childrearing
Practices Among Kurubas and Soliga Tribes from South India," reveals that showing affection
can greatly benefit a child's personality development.

Disciplinary Techniques
The Mysore study on tribes from South India found that mothers often take on the main role of
both disciplinarian and nurturer. That is not to say that fathers do not participate in their
children's lives; they generally do, but as more of a background player.

Discipline can take many forms, including physical punishment. In "Child Abuse and Neglect:
Cross-cultural Perspectives," professor Thomas Poffenberger examines disciplinary techniques
in India. "Although a peasant society such as rural India may dictate child treatment that would
be considered abusive in the United States," he writes, "there is probably less of the extreme,
irrational abuse that is common in the West." Poffenberger suggests that regular proximity of
extended family members serves as a dampening influence on anger. Not all parents choose
direct punishment; according to his research, some prefer methods such as deprivation as a form
of discipline.

Gender Preferences
Many Indian parents prefer male children over females. The CIA's World Factbook indicates that
there are more males than females in every age group in India except those older than 65. An
NDTV article from 2010 acknowledges the ongoing fact that "female fetuses are often aborted
after a couple sees an ultrasound." Similarly, Poffenberger posits that neglecting female children,
even to the point of death, may meet with "at least passive support" in some regions of India. It is
clear that male and female children are often treated differently, with girls regarded as less
valuable in some families.
Article 2

http://www.indiatribune.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=4357:-traditional-indian-
parenting-practices&catid=99:column&Itemid=462

Traditional Indian parenting practices

By Thomas Kulanjiyil
What are some of the salient features of traditional Indian parenting? What does traditional
Indian parenting have to offer to the Indian American immigrant parent?
The traditional Indian parenting is shaped by the cultural and religious values of the land,
generational wisdom, and life experiences. The goal of parenting is comprehensive development
of children and it integrates the cognitive, emotional, and spiritual components of an individuals
growth. It includes both the personal and social dimensions of human growth and development.

Another characteristic of Indian parenting is that children are brought up in an atmosphere of

emphatic richness. The supportive environment of the extended family system provides support
and encouragement to parents. The parent-child bond is established by such child rearing
practices as breast-feeding that provides not only nourishment to the baby, but also allows
increasing physical contact between the mother and the child. Cuddling adds physical contact
between the mother and the child and also provides a sense of security for the child. The strong
emotional bond established between Indian parent and child during early childhood is said to be
lifelong.

The traditional Indian parenting is value-based parenting. Deference for authority in social
relationships is an expected behavioral norm. The family extends horizontally and laterally.
People are bound up by their duty to family, to parents, to children, and to society. Parents are to
be honored and cared for. The community is seen as the extended family. Values of
interdependence and community are promoted. It is expected that one will live up to ones family
name, and also fulfill ones dharma (duties) to the family and to the community. Norms of
personal chastity and modesty in private and social behavior is reinforced. The practice of self-
control is central to character formation.

The traditional Indian parenting is not without its share of disparagement. It is pointed out that
the authoritarian type of Indian parenting limits individual autonomy. The stress on community
and interdependence is detrimental to developing individual self-identity. Overprotective Indian
parenting inhibits personal agency and assertiveness. Corporeal punishment, tolerated in
traditional Indian parenting, is said to have long lasting emotional scars on children.

In spite of these criticisms, traditional Indian parenting has a great deal to offer to the Indian
immigrant parent. Such features as the focus on comprehensive development of the child, the
significance of character formation, the impact of empathic richness in Indian parenting, the
thrust on personal chastity and modesty in private and social behavior, and the importance of
community and interdependence, are all culturally appropriate parenting practices for the Indian
immigrant parent to adopt.
Article 3

2009

From: http://www.indiaparenting.com/raising-children/253_1353/fatherhood.html

When a baby arrives in a home; it is a moment of joy and a new found status that is of being
parents. Mothers are always acknowledged for their role in raising the child but fathers seldom
get acknowledged. Fathers also play a major role in bringing up a child. They also share the
responsibilities with the mother. It is time now to acknowledge them.

Jaya is a frustrated new Mom. Once the baby admirers had departed, she was left alone to
cope up with her exhausted and weak body and a newborn who now dictated the household
schedule. To make matters worse, her husband, who was equally overwhelmed by the entire
experience, had begun behaving in a bizarre manner, at times even distancing himself from
her and the baby.

Fathers too need help to adjust

Jaya is not alone. Becoming a parent takes a little bit of getting used to - for both partners. The only
difference being that the changing roles of the 'new Mom' is widely acknowledged, while that of the 'new
Dad' oft goes unrecognised. Yet, he is the one who has to get used to taking the back seat, while
shouldering all the new responsibilities. The sooner the couple understand that the father, Nitin, needs
some time and space to get used to the drastically changed routine, the better it is for the couple and
baby.

Parental responsibilities are increasing

With the changing face of families from the traditional joint family to nuclear families, the physical and
emotional strains of new parenthood also increase, as couples have to cope with new responsibilities, by
themselves, and without help and time-honoured advice from the elders. The outcome of all this is that
romance and sex take a backseat and all the communication revolves around 'baby' topics. This often
creates an awkward situation, and a strain on the marriage. The best way for the couple to cope would be
to get Nitin involved in the caring and raising of the baby. This will not only strengthen the bond between
husband and wife, but will also help raise a healthy and happy child.

The profile of the father is changing

The traditional profile of a father is still that dad works all day, comes home and spends a few hours
playing with the kids at night, before having dinner and heading off to bed. It is generally believed that the
caring and raising of children is best left to women. However the 'Millennium Age Dads' are changing and
challenging this tradition. They are stepping in as real caretakers with their infants and toddlers, and are
doing very well! Also research shows that active fathers who help in caring and raising their child create
healthier and stronger marriages, and their children are well balanced.
Infants derive comfort from fathers too

Fathers have that special advantage over mothers, with the distinctly deeper tenor of their voice and 'the
rise and fall rhythm' of their chest. Babies derive comfort from the vibrations of the male voice, and also
from the warm feel and throb of the father's chest, which straightaway lulls them to sleep.

Tips on getting dad more involved

1. The role of a father is just as important when it comes to raising children. It is imperative that
mothers give fathers certain responsibilities. Dads should try and watch all those TV shows which
encourage father-child bonding, and should refer to books on 'infant care' or 'fatherhood'.

2. Couples should discuss and communicate anxieties about the newborn.

3. Sooner or later, as dad gets more involved in the upbringing of the children, he will realise the
importance and significance of this involvement.

4. You as a father should try and draw out your own memories of childhood when raising your
children. What did your father do right, and wrong? Learn from your own experiences.

5. As a wife, you could demonstrate to your husband how the newborn responds and relates to
moms and dads differently. As much as the baby needs the tender caress of his Mom, he also
craves for the reassuring, firm touch of his dad. Whenever your baby is in a good mood and
recently fed, leave him in the care of your husband. Encourage him to interact with the baby, and
guide him subtly if he still finds it difficult to bond with him. Try to discover the ways to make your
baby gurgle with joy, and share these pleasures together.

6. Don't dole out advice or rush to comfort the baby everytime he cries. Let dad console him.

7. Give father and child him time and space, so they can work out their relationship and equations by
themselves. Your husband will device his own ways of taking care of the infant and coping up with
situations. In fact, you will be encouraged by the reassuring tips he will come up with, which
somehow never occurred to you.

8. What a new dad hates most is watching his newborn cry, and being unable to soothe him or not
knowing how to. Most dads avoid participating in infant care due to this very sense of helplessness
and of being overpowered by feelings of inadequacy and distress. Help your husband overcome
his uncertainties and master the techniques of baby care.

Remember, a father who is actively involved in his child's life (not just financially) by shouldering
responsibilities and contributing to decisions on child-raising, plays a tremendous role in determining
whether the child will grow up having strong family ties and a healthy, well-balanced attitude, or not. Such
participation not only lays the foundation for a healthy bond between father and child, but also leaves the
mother with more time on her hands for other work - and play!
Article 4

Could there be some minimal universal parameters for child rearing that could be considered
with culture-specific ones in cases such as the one where two Indian children were taken from
their parents by Norwegian child welfare, asks Rakesh Shukla

Any attempt to look in a balanced manner at the issues involved in the saga of two Indian
children, Aishwarya and Abhigyan, taken from their parents in May 2011 at the ages of one
month and two years respectively, by the Norwegian Child Welfare Agency involves a lowering
of the emotional temperature. The construct of warm, perfect Indian versus flawed, cold
Norwegian (read: western) childrearing practices does not enable us to do justice to the serious
concerns thrown up by the tussle between the parents and social services. Regardless of an
amicable settlement in the present case, thanks to the intervention of the Indian government,
several issues remain.

The reality of the warm, effusive Indian family culture coexists with the findings of a
government survey backed by the UN Childrens Fund that over 50% of children face child
sexual abuse in India. Alongside the pampering and notion that childhood is a golden era is the
reality of the National Commission for Child Rights recent findings that over 99% of children
are caned, slapped, hit on the back, and get their ears boxed at school. Varying childrearing
practices probably evolved in tune with preparation for development in harmony, and the
eventual integration of the growing individual with the mores and norms of diverse societies.

The colonial era is long past us, and formulations premising a culture as superior to another do
not enjoy much acceptability except among a chauvinistic section of society. Every culture has
traits that appear positive and others that appear idiosyncratic, if not harmful, when viewed from
the outside. This is applicable to childrearing practices as well. There are certain universal
aspects in the growth and development of a baby, such as ravenous hunger which is satisfied by
feeding. And there are other aspects of childrearing that are culture-specific, such as whether
babies should sleep in a separate cot or bedroom. Disciplines like modern psychology originated
in western societies, and the insights were understandably affected by the practices of the
specific culture in which they evolved. However the formulations, in a sense, got severed from
their moorings and acquired a universal hue. Now, understandings regarding growth, mental
health, pathology and functioning of the human psyche are increasingly taking on board diverse
cultures and societies.

Apparently, the fact of the Indian father sharing a bed with his two-year-old son was one of the
factors in the Norwegian Child Welfare Agencys (Barnevernets) decision to take the children
away from their parents. From the Indian cultural viewpoint, it could be asserted that European
or American children are sensually starved or under-stimulated as they sleep in a separate
bedroom and are cuddled less. From a western perspective, children in India face an overdose of
sensual stimulation and excitement. In fact, Erikson, pioneer of locating an individual in the
specific cultural milieu of his/her community, speaking of America writes: Consider our
coloured countrymen. Their babies often receive sensual satisfactions of oral and sensory surplus
adequate for a lifetime. It is preserved in the way in which they move, laugh, talk, sing. The
Indian practice of feeding children with the hand seems to have been viewed as force-feeding
and weighed with the Norwegian authorities in deciding the issue of custody for the children.

There is a lot of middle ground between the two ends of the spectrum -- minimal requirements
like feeding which must happen for the baby to live and total absence of human touch which
must not happen for the baby to not die or be severely stunted. Different societies have evolved
different practices in the middle arena which they consider necessary for healthy childrearing.
These cultural practices are designed to shape and mould the growing baby to fit, with the least
amount of friction, into the communitys specific habitat as well as norms of being in that
particular society.

A perspective that considers the minimal universal and the specific cultural would offer a more
constructive way of approaching the issues involved in this controversy. News media describing
the meeting arranged by the Norwegian agency between the children and their parents reported
that the one-year-old Aishwarya did not recognise her mother. This could be seen by the parents
as: Look what the cruel Norwegian agency has done in taking away the child. Little Aishwarya
does not even recognise her mother! The agency could turn it around and view the non-
recognition as evidence of attachment problems between parent and child.

At four weeks, the age at which Aishwarya was taken away, a baby feels instinctive hunger and
something is put in its mouth that brings satisfaction. At this stage of development, the baby does
not reflect upon the source of the milk supply. It has no concept of a person outside of itself who
satisfies its needs. It does not have a memory for faces and, in that sense, does not recognise its
mother; there is no visual memory yet. However, the baby receives an infinite number of
impressions through physical contact, which lead to the association of mother with pleasure,
satisfaction and protection. It is only gradually that the satisfactions of nursing become
associated with the human face. Initially, the baby smiles at any human face that evokes the
memory of pleasure and satisfaction. Similarly, in the early months, the baby feeds regardless of
the person who gives it the milk bottle. Later, even when hungry, the baby may turn away and
howl at being fed by strangers. These responses of the growing infant indicate that positive
identification and differentiation of the mothers face take place at around eight months, and
point to the reassurance and security provided by the familiar faces of the parents. This is
applicable to all babies, including Aishwarya and Abhigyan.

Regardless of Barnevernets reasons for taking away the babies, the fact that they were placed
with three different sets of foster parents in the course of 11 months is bound to have been
unsettling and must have worked against a sense of security and protection in the children,
leading to greater anxiety and distress.

In sharp contrast to the Indian authorities that have a penchant for disclosing the details of
minors involved in legal cases, the Norwegian agency, citing confidentiality, has refused to say
anything more than a vague mention of emotional disturbance and/or some sort of attachment
issue. In the absence of data, it is difficult to discuss the merits/demerits of Barnevernets
decision to take the two children away from their parents.

The figure of 12,500 children having been taken away by the Child Welfare Agency in a small
country like Norway is worrying, more so if it involves a disproportionate number of immigrant
families. Understanding the trajectory of a babys development at various stages of its growth
would help chart out a course of conduct in the best interests of children. And avoid getting
caught in the trap of judging the rights or wrongs of childrearing practices across cultures.

(Rakesh Shukla is a Supreme Court lawyer, Member, International Council of Jurists, Affiliate,
Indian Psychoanalytical Society, Member, Indian Association of Family Therapy,
Psychotherapist, Centre for Psychoanalytical Studies, University of Delhi, Delhi)

http://infochangeindia.org/children/analysis/childrearing-practices-culture-and-psychology.html

Infochange News & Features, March 2012

Article 5

Beliefs, Values and Customs of Chinese

Parents
by Damon Verial, Demand Media

Chinese ancestor worship shows the Chinese connection to family, even after death.

What a parent believes strongly affects her parenting style and her framework for raising a child.
Because different cultures value different concepts, Chinese and Western parents naturally differ.
Not only do Chinese parents differ in family customs, but they also differ in the goals they set for
their children. Understanding Chinese culture can give Westerners insight into the palpably
different style of parenting of Chinese parents.

Parent-child Dependence
In Chinese culture, parents and children are mutually reliant, with each one taking more
responsibility at certain times. Parents take on most of the responsibility until the child has found
a husband or wife. Depending on the age of marriage, this could mean the child relies on her
parents up to the age of 30. It is not uncommon to find a 30-something proudly admitting that
she lives with her parents. This cultural aspect gives Chinese children the expectation that they
can virtually always rely on their parents, both financially and for moral support. Chinese
children are therefore less independent than their Western counterparts, who tend to leave the
home in early adulthood and find work even earlier. Overall, a Chinese parent sees her job to last
well after the child has reached the age of majority.

Academics Come First

Unlike their Western counterparts, most Chinese parents emphasize academic skills above all
other skills, including interpersonal skills, according to parenting scholar Yan-Mei Yang, author
of a Chinese parenting book that compares the parenting styles of Chinese and Western parents.
Because of this, to Westerners, Chinese children might seem less mature in their interpersonal
communication and relationships. However, Chinese children tend to perform well in school and
have a strong drive to gain high grades, because doing so would please their parents. The
Chinese parents desire to see his child perform well in school often is related to their hope for a
childs success at an older age. As the care-taker role switches from parent to child after a child
marries, parents want their children to earn a successful living to support the family.

Parenting Style
A parenting style is a general scheme of how much control and response a parent gives her
children. According to the McClelland Institute, Chinese parents are more likely to use a more
controlling and less responsive parenting style. This parenting style puts the parent as a strong
authority figure and the child as something of a subject to the parent. A Chinese parent, for
example, will put an expectation on her child without explaining why, such as by saying, You
must declare a pre-med major when you go to college. Children are unlikely to question their
parents expectations or rules, accepting them without conflict.

Specific Cultural Aspects

The Chinese culture contains many concepts that do not exist in Western culture. To the Western
world, many of these concepts are so obscure that English translations for them do not exist; they
are simply written in Romanized Chinese. But these concepts pervade the thought style of the
Chinese parent, guiding many of their actions. The concepts of guan and xiao shun, for
example, teach that parents are the rulers of the family and that children should follow the orders
of the parents due to rulers being naturally benevolent. In addition, traditional Chinese folk
religion includes the worship of ones ancestors and the belief that your ancestors are still
watching you even after death. In this way, children have the pressure of not only their parents
wishes but their parents parents wishes.
http://everydaylife.globalpost.com/beliefs-values-customs-chinese-parents-15904.html

Article 6

Traditional Chinese parenting: What research says about Chinese kids and why
they succeed 2011 - 2012 Gwen Dewar, Ph.D., all rights reserved Why
people are interested in traditional Chinese parenting Chinese Americans are
overrepresented in many of the nation's elite universities" say Yong Zhao and
Wei Qiu. The kids get higher SAT math scores, and are disproportionately
represented among U.S. National Merit Scholars (Zhao and Qiu 2009). A recent
study of American tenth graders found that Asian-Americans outperformed all
other ethnic groups in math and science (Else-Quest et al 2013). Why is this the
case? Contrary to popular belief, its not because Chinese people enjoy an
innate advantage in IQ. When James Flynn analyzed past studies of
achievement and IQ, he found that Chinese attainments could be better
explained by environmental factors (Flynn 1991). So whats the secret? Yale law
professor Amy Chua says its about parenting. Chinese mothers raise more
accomplished, academically successful kids because they are more demanding
and strict than Western mothers are. Is Chua correct? There is some evidence
in her favor. We know, for example, that parents who set high standards tend
to have kids who are more successful at school. Its also clear that Chinese
parents tend to spend more time pushing their kids to study, practice, and
achieve. But the devil is in the details, and many critics want to know about the
specific parenting practices Chua describes in a controversial piece for the Wall
Street Journal, and in her autobiographical book, Battle Hymn of the Tiger
Mother. As I note below, these practices -- which feature the threat of
punishment and lots of psychological control -- sound like authoritarian
parenting, an approach to child-rearing that is usually not associated with the
best academic and emotional child outcomes. The best child outcomes are
usually linked with a different style-- authoritative parenting. It's true for many
Westerners, and it's also true for many Chinese. When Chinese kids are raised
by authoritative parents, they do as well or better than Chinese kids from
authoritarian homes. So its doubtful that Chuas tactics are as effective as she
thinks, and recent research bears this out. As I note in this blog post, a new
study testing Chua's ideas links tiger parenting with lower academic
achievement and poorer emotional adjustment (Kim et al 2013). What, then,
can explain Chinese achievement? Decades of research suggests that Chinese
kids have two big advantages, advantages that have little to do with
authoritarianism: Parents emphasize effort, not innate ability Children's
peers support each other when they work hard at school Effort--and the belief
that effort pays off--is a key ingredient to Chinese success. Chua herself makes
this point in the Wall Street Journal. She doesnt let her kids believe they cant
succeed. So here is an overview of Chuas controversial claims, and a look at
the research on Chinese parenting. Self-portrait of a Chinese mom Amy Chua is
the daughter of Chinese immigrants to the United States. Her parents, she says,
were extremely strict but extremely loving. She tried to raise her kids the
same way. What does this mean? Chua provides some specific examples. For
instance, Chua says she never allowed her kids to have a playdate, watch TV,
participate in a school play, or choose their own extra-curricular activities. The
kids are also not allowed to get any grade less than an A or not be the No. 1
student in every subject except gym and drama. When her 7-year-old
daughter failed to master a new piece on the piano, Chua drove her relentlessly.
I threatened her with no lunch, no dinner, no Christmas or Hanukkah
presents, Chua writes, no birthday parties for two, three, four years. When
she still kept playing it wrong, I told her she was purposely working herself into
a frenzy because she was secretly afraid she couldn't do it. I told her to stop
being lazy, cowardly, self-indulgent and pathetic. Chua made her daughter
work into the night, denying her even a break to go to the bathroom. The
house became a war zone, and I lost my voice yelling, but still there seemed to
be only negative progress, and even I began to have doubts. Then--at last--the
girl made a breakthrough. She mastered the piece, and wanted to play it again
and again. And the emotional strife had lifted. That night, the girl crawled into
her mothers bed, and they snuggled and hugged, cracking each other up. To
many people, this story is disturbing. Chuas approach seems harsh and
unhelpful. But Chua got the results. And, Chua notes, the point is this: Unlike
many Western parents who would have backed down, convinced that the child
just wasnt ready or able to master the new piano piece, Chua believed that her
child could do it. But she wasnt going to learn the piece without intense effort,
and that effort wasnt going to happen unless the child was pushed. What helps
kids? To be allowed to choose for themselves, or to be pushed into
achievements that will pay off later in life? A more indulgent approach might
seem more caring. But, as Chua argues, her parenting style shows a concern for
the long-term welfare of her kids. The Chinese believe that the best way to
protect their children is by preparing them for the future, letting them see what
they're capable of, and arming them with skills, work habits and inner
confidence that no one can ever take away. That doesnt mean that Chinese
parenting is better. As Chua recounts in her book, one of her daughters
rebelled, and Chua had to reassess her views. She tells Jeff Yang, "...I'm aware
now of the limitations of that model -- that it doesn't incorporate enough choice,
that it doesn't account for kids' individual personalities... But Chua sticks by
her basic premise. If you want to know why Chinese kids succeed, its because
of the sorts of parenting practices described above. What does the research
say? Chuas claims have caused a stir. Are the parenting tactics she describes
truly effective? And if these tactics work, do they work at a cost to the kids?
Heres what the research says. 1. Traditional Chinese parenting has been
labeled as authoritarian by some researchers. Authoritarian parenting is a
style of child-rearing that emphasizes high standards and a tendency to control
kids through shaming, the withdrawal of love, or other punishments. This is
distinguished from authoritative parenting, which also emphasizes high
standards, but is accompanied by high levels of parental warmth and a
commitment to reason with children. 2. When compared with authoritative
parenting, authoritarian parenting is linked with lower levels of self-control,
more emotional problems, and lower academic performance. These links have
been documented for Western kids raised in North America. They have also
been documented for Chinese kids living in Beijing and Taiwan. But there are
some exceptions. Studies Hong Kong Chinese (Leung et al 1998) and of Chinese
immigrants to North America (Chao 2001) have linked authoritarian parenting
with higher school achievement. 3. Researchers like Ruth Chao argue that the
authoritarian label doesnt quite map onto the strict, controlling parenting style
of many traditional Chinese. Authoritarian implies that parents are rather cold
and distant. But strict Chinese parents enjoy a sense of closeness with their
kids. And the kids may interpret their parents coercive tactics as evidence that
they are loved. This, says Chao, is why some studies have failed to show a link
between poor outcomes and authoritarian parenting among Chinese
immigrants. Unlike children in Western authoritarian families--children who feel
alienated by their parents--the Chinese-American kids feel connected (Chao
1994; Chao 2001). 4. Traditional Chinese parenting has one clear advantage
over contemporary Western parenting: Chinese parents--like many other Asian
parents--are more likely to emphasize effort over innate talent. Experiments
show that people learn more when they believe that effort, not innate
intelligence, is the key to achievement. And other research suggests that
Westerners are more likely to assume that a child fails because he lacks innate
ability (Stevenson and Lee 1990). 5. Chinese-American kids tend to have peer
groups that support achievement. Studies of adolescents in the United States
suggest that some kids pay a nerd penalty for studying hard. When these kids
perform well at school, they get rejected by their peers. Chinese-Americans are
less likely to face this choice between scholastic success and social success.
Lawrence Steinberg and his colleagues (1992) wonder if pro-achievement
peer pressure protects Chinese kids from some of the negative effects of
authoritarian parenting. And what about creativity? Independent thinking skills?
I havent found any studies addressing the subject. But some educators in
China have expressed concern that traditional Chinese parenting doesnt foster
creativity or divergent thinking (Tobin et al 1991; Zhao 2007). And it seems
reasonable to assume that kids wont develop skills they dont practice. As Yong
Zhao and Wei Qiu note, its a myth that Chinese (and other Asian-American)
students are good at everything. Like everyone else, they have their strengths
and weaknesses. And these are shaped by training. So there is no magic here.
Just the payoffs for hard work. Is the controversy justified? It's certainly
understandable. People want to know if authoritarian parenting can sometimes
be a good thing. I'm inclined to say not. But in any case, it's clear that there are
good things about traditional Chinese parenting--and Chinese culture--that
don't have anything to do with authoritarianism. And those are lessons that can
benefit us all.

http://www.parentingscience.com/chinese-parenting.html