WSJ article on Why "Chinese Mothers" are Superior

[vicariousparent]

<p>Whether you agree with this or not, this article makes some interesting observations, and is pretty funny too.</p>

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The fact is that Chinese parents can do things that would seem unimaginable—even legally actionable—to Westerners. Chinese mothers can say to their daughters, “Hey fatty—lose some weight.” By contrast, Western parents have to tiptoe around the issue, talking in terms of “health” and never ever mentioning the f-word, and their kids still end up in therapy for eating disorders and negative self-image.

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For example, if a child comes home with an A-minus on a test, a Western parent will most likely praise the child. The Chinese mother will gasp in horror and ask what went wrong. If the child comes home with a B on the test, some Western parents will still praise the child. Other Western parents will sit their child down and express disapproval, but they will be careful not to make their child feel inadequate or insecure, and they will not call their child “stupid,” “worthless” or “a disgrace.” …</p>

<p>If a Chinese child gets a B—which would never happen—there would first be a screaming, hair-tearing explosion. The devastated Chinese mother would then get dozens, maybe hundreds of practice tests and work through them with her child for as long as it takes to get the grade up to an A.

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<p>[Why</a> Chinese Mothers Are Superior - WSJ.com](<a href=“http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704111504576059713528698754.html#articleTabs%3Darticle]Why”>http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704111504576059713528698754.html#articleTabs%3Darticle)</p>