On being a Chinese daughter...

For those of you who haven't read this, please do:
Why Chinese Mothers Are Superior

After reading this article, I invite you to share my indignation at author Amy Chua. Chua has grossly misportrayed Chinese mothers as arrogant, self-entitled, narcissistic monsters, which I know from experience is not the case. Chua chooses to dwell on the fact that, in Chinese culture, children are supposed to honor the people who gave them life with respect, obedience, and good life outcomes. While this is true, I challenge readers to find more than a handful of parents who want their children to do well, simply because the child's accomplishments will reflect positively on them. However, as an insider, I can tell you this: Chinese parents push their children hard because they know it will help their children after leaving the nest. Chinese parents want to instill in their children a solid sense of work ethic, and give their children a rich background of accomplishments. These two key qualities guarantee that Chinese children will complete their education, and enter the "grown up" world with enough knowledge and experience to survive comfortably. I am not saying that Chinese mothers like Chua do not exist, but I firmly believe that Chua is completely incorrect in offering herself up as a paradigm of Chinese parenting. Having been around parents like Chua before, I know that-in most cases- the children fear and resent their parents' heavy-handed ways, and rarely go on to adapt the same parenting style they grew up with. The ideal Chinese parents push their children hard, and may seem strict and callous; however, they do the things they do out of love (not out of desire for self-advancement).