Carter: Why Chinese Mothers Aren’t Superior
Posted in Main Blog (All Posts) on January 15th, 2011 5:49 am by HL
Carter: Why Chinese Mothers Aren’t Superior
Amy Chua’s new book, Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother, argues that Chinese mothers are superior because they demand absolute perfection and won’t refrain from berating, threatening, and even starving kids to achieve it. “Chua’s argument goes against years of scientific research into what makes kids truly happy — and successful — in life,” writes sociologist Christine Carter. “Chua defines success narrowly, focusing on achievement and perfection at all costs: Success is getting straight As and being a violin or piano prodigy. Three decades of research clearly suggests that such a narrow focus on achievement can produce wildly unhappy people.”
