The document compares the roles of children in European families versus Chinese families in 3 main points: 1) In European families, a child is viewed as an individual in the family with equal status to parents. In Chinese families, a child is seen as the center of the family in a subordinate role to parents. 2) Communication styles differ, with Chinese parents using top-down commands and European parents encouraging listening and sharing. 3) The relationship between parents and children is also different, with Chinese children in a subordinate role to parents and European children having a more equal or even friendly relationship with parents.

1. POLS 3620: Contemporary Europe and Asia
Tam Wai Lok, Ivan 09019707
Sze Tsz Kwan, Ada 09013067
Yu Sin Wa, Iris 09017585

2. What is the role of a child in a European family and a Chinese family
Europe: an individual in a family China: the center of a family
Yu Sin Wa, Iris (09017585)

3. Chinese Families European Families
Family value Authoritarian Equality
Role of child in reckling As an individual like
families other family
members
Relationship of Subordinate Equal status or even
parents and child Friendship
Forms of Top-Down commands Listening and sharing
communication and bottom-up
requests
Yu Sin Wa, Iris (09017585)

5. Sze Tsz Kwan, Ada (09013067)

6. I couldn’t sleep! Tell me a bedside story!
I’ll thump you if you don’t The most effective
sleep! bedside story on Earth…
Sze Tsz Kwan, Ada (09013067)

7. Raise your arm
higher!
Bend your waist lower!
Stretch your body!
Ah, healthy gymnastics is
not healthy at all…
Sze Tsz Kwan, Ada (09013067)

8. Sze Tsz Kwan, Ada (09013067)

9. “Oh, show some interest! How many 8-year-
olds can play the ‘1812’ on a vacuum hose?”
Sze Tsz Kwan, Ada (09013067)

10. Chinese Parents (Tend to be…) British Parents (Tend to be…)
- Authoritarian - Authoritative
a. Blame and scold first a. Ask for reason first
 Subordinative status  Equal status
 Children are not given chance  Children are allowed to
to explain for their explain for their mishaviours,
misbehaviours, taught to be teach with reasoning
obedient b. Rare use of corporal
b. Use of corporal punishment punishment and threat
and threat c. Communication, Two-way
c. Lack of communication understanding
Sze Tsz Kwan, Ada (09013067)

12. “You will lose your front teeth
if you tell lies”
“Not respecting parents will be
punished by Thunder God”
Tam Wai Lok, Ivan (09019707)

13. Chinese Parents British Parents
• Obedient • Independent
• Morally good • Own individuality and
good conduct
Tam Wai Lok, Ivan (09019707)

14. “It’s Not That I Reject Your Values, Mum and Dad. It’s Just That
I’ve Evolved And You Haven’t.”
Tam Wai Lok, Ivan (09019707)

15. Chinese Parents British Parents
• Obedient • Independent
• Morally good • Own individuality and
• Wealth and Honor good conduct
• Curiosity, Interest,
Happiness, Personal
growth
Tam Wai Lok, Ivan (09019707)

16. Father, Do you
love Me?
What score did you
get in your exam
today?
75
75
Then you only get 75%
of my love today.
Tam Wai Lok, Ivan (09019707)

17. Tam Wai Lok, Ivan (09019707)

18. Chinese Parents British Parents
•Authoritarian •Understanding,
•Think that they make respecting
the best choice for their •Think that their
children children are capable to
make decisions for their
own good
Yu Sin Wa, Iris (09017585)

19. Yu Sin Wa, Iris (09017585)

20. Different Degree of child’s
freedom
 MasterCard Worldwide survey:
Hong Kong 88%
Taiwan 79%
China 46%
interviewed parents force
their children to attend at least
one interest class
 Music instrument learning, foreign languages and
tutorial classes are the most popular interest classes
 Only 8% interviewed parents take their children’s
interest into account
Yu Sin Wa, Iris (09017585)

21. Yu Sin Wa, Iris (09017585)

22. Yu Sin Wa, Iris (09017585)

23. Yu Sin Wa, Iris (09017585)

24. Yu Sin Wa, Iris (09017585)

25. The End