PARENT- ADOLESCENT RELATIONSHIP IN CHINESE AMERICAN FAMILIES

By Crystal Lee HD1170 Spring 2014

TIGER MOTHER

Emphasis on academic success Strict and blunt approach towards

adolescent Attributes poor performance to lack of

effort not lack of ability Controlling lack of concern for child’s self esteem

CHINESE RELATIONISM

Hwang (2000) Vertical in-group: person in subordinate status in conflict

with person of superior status; subordinate should maintain a good relationship by enduring and using indirect communication.

Horizontal in-group: both in equal status want to maintain good relationship, can use more direct communication to resolve problems through compromise

Horizontal out-group: both in different groups and in equal status, less concern for maintaining good relationship.

Chinese parent-adolescent relationship is the vertical in-group relationship

CONFLICTS IN CHINESE AMERICAN FAMILIES

Acculturation gap Chinese American parents want to restrict youth’s

autonomy with decision making, self assertion in communication and self realization in educational and career paths (Cooper 1999; Leong, Kao, Lee, 2004; Okubo et al.,2007; Russell, Crockett, & Chao, 2010)

Different but parallel dual frames of reference Many of ideas rooted in Confucianism Stresses the importance of meeting parental

and societal expectations regardless of own desire.

ACCULTURATION BASED CONFLICTS

Parental education pressure Attitudes towards other races Feeling towards parent country of origin

& identity Cultural and language barriers

EDUCATIONAL PRESSURE

In a study with participants from a competitive and high achieving HS, it was found that aside from parental expectations, the teen had “deeply internalized high parental expectations and were intrinsically motivated to do well academically”

Parents constantly compare them to students who are very successful

Students are worried about their parent’s reaction to possible academic failure

Repetition of conversations about test performance and grades

Some interpret their parent’s high expectations as their way to realize the American Dream

ATTITUDES TOWARDS OTHER RACES

Adolescents find parent’s attitudes towards other ethnic groups like the Latino, African American, or Japanese descent “racist”

Chinese Americans were likely to grow up in a diverse city, while their immigrant parents may not be used to that

CONFLICTS RELATED TO ORIGIN COUNTRY Levels of pride of country of origin may

differ for parent and adolescent There may be certain aspects of the

country of origin that the adolescent may not like (ex: communism) . If the adolescent expresses this, the parent is likely to find it upsetting

CULTURE AND LANGUAGE BARRIER

Language barrier: hard to clearly convey thoughts or explanations • Frustrating for both adolescent and parent,

can make argument worse

PROBLEMS:

Teen wants more freedom while parents want more obedience.

Americans value autonomy/independence while Chinese emphasize familial duties.

In the US, teachers emphasize the importance of participation, voicing your opinions, and speaking up for yourself. Chinese parents emphasize that we should not talk back to our parents (even if we may be right or our reason is logical) and to listen to whatever they say.

COMPROMISE?

Chinese American children less likely to challenge parents in public (vertical in-group)

Immigrant parents adjust partly to what they see in the US by being more democratic and respecting autonomy (horizontal in group) (Kwak, 2003; Qin 2008)

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Qin, D.B., Chang, T-F., Han, E-J., & Chee, G. (2012). Conflicts and communication between high-achieving Chinese American adolescents and their parents. In L.P. Juang & A.J. Umanna-Taylor (Eds), Family conflict among Chinese- and Mexican-origin adolescents and their parents in the U.S. New Directions for Child and Adolescent Development, 135, 35-57.

Chua, A. (2011). Why Chinese mothers are superior. The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved from http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052748704111504576059713528698754