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Concerns About "Tiger Mom" Parenting Approach Supported By Data

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Let me start out by saying I am very sensitive to Asian cultures.  I have spent a considerable amount of time in Japan, Korea and China and I speak conversational Japanese.   I know that these cultures put a VERY high price on education and typically take an "ends justifies the means" parenting style.    We all see the academic achievement coming out of these countries' schools and they realize that education can create economic competitiveness. 

With that out of the way, I have not been comfortable with the "tiger mom" philosophy.  I read Amy Chua's book and I must admit, I was mortified by it.   I just couldn't see myself treat my children this way, and I have seen some American-born parents do this with their children in various ways, such as pushing them too early to specialize in a sport, and making them join travel teams at very early ages and have no socialization and risk being burned out before they finish high school.   I have also interviewed high school seniors for my alma mater and seen "tiger mom" parenting philosophies.  However, I would not criticize another country's cultural practices, but rather state that it is not a philosophy I would ever inflict on my own children.   When the book came out, there was highly spirited debate, but now there just might be the first research studies published to support those who vehemently oppose the "tiger mom" practice.

Su Yeong Kim, an Associate Professor of human development and family sciences at the University of Texas, had been following more than 300 Asian-American families for a decade when the book came out.  She recently published her results.  Children of parents whom Kim classified as “tiger” had lower academic achievement and attainment—and greater psychological maladjustment—and family alienation, than the kids of parents characterized as “supportive” or "easygoing."  I encourage you to review the study, its methodology and its findings.

I have no doubt that we have not heard the end of this debate.

 


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