Parenting, Chinese Families and

Before proceeding, some clarification of the designation Chinese is necessary in light of the vast amount of variation that exists across different societies that are considered Chinese. For the purpose of this entry, research conducted in a number of countries may be included in this designation, including the People's Republic of China (P.R.C.), Taiwan, and Hong Kong. In addition, this designation will refer to individuals of Chinese descent residing in countries other than the ones listed previously (e.g., Chinese American immigrants).

As of 2002, the population in Mainland China totaled 1,284,303,705, which is approximately one fifth of the world's population. The immigration of Chinese people to countries such as the United States has helped create substantial populations in the receiving countries. For instance, in 2002, the Chinese population totaled 2,432,585 million in the United States and 1,029,395 in Canada. These Chinese immigrants constitute distinct cultural groups that bring with them particular beliefs, practices, and norms. Thus, the study of parenting among Chinese families is important not only for scholarly reasons pertaining to our understanding of parenting in general or within particular groups; as the number of Chinese children increases in population worldwide and in North America, work in parenting among this population is necessary to inform public policy, practice, and effective intervention on these children's behalf.

This entry is based on the assumption that cultural models of childhood socialization have an influence on parenting, and it is imperative to first present a summary of the origins of indigenous conceptions about the person and childhood in Chinese culture. Thus, the historical influences on Chinese parenting will be discussed first. Next, the entry focuses on the central theme surrounding the socialization goals of Chinese parents, that of “family as center” and family interdependence. This is followed by a discussion of the theme of control and strictness in Chinese parenting, a topic that has generated some debate.