Why I love My Strict Chinese Mom

Shannon Trinh

ASA 2 - Section 1

Blog #9

Response to: Why I love My Strict Chinese Mom

            Having Asian immigrant parents, I completely understand this point of view in the reading. Although my own family used parenting styles that were a bit more Western than the typical Asian families, I could still recognize the differences between my lifestyle, and those of my non-Asian friends. It is interesting that the immediate reactions to Asian parents are mostly negative, assuming that the child is automatically miserable and is emotionally or mentally abused daily. From my point of view, although I sometimes felt like I did not have as much freedom as others, I was never resentful or bitter towards my parents. Just like the author of the letter, I now feel an immensity of gratitude towards them.

Knowing that one’s parents truly struggled and worked hard to succeed in this country makes having a “tiger parent” not so bad at all. Because a lot of the generations before us thrived with almost nothing to begin with, it is the children’s duty to make the most out of any academic and beneficial opportunities presented in from of them. It is not just that Asian parents want their children to be extremely successful, it is also important for the child to push their limits and discover their true potential so that hard work for generations does not go to waste.

Questions: Chinese/Asian parents have this reputation, but aren’t there other minorities that put pressures on their children as well? Why is it that Chinese moms and dads are mainly pointed at for this?