In one very telling study of Lebanese mothers transplanted to Australia, for example, the clash of cultures was clearly illustrated by how the women approached parenting. The Australian mothers expected their preschoolers to be highly verbal and to be prepared for the rigors of school. The Australian mothers also felt that certain developmental tasks have only a small window of opportunity during which a child can acquire those skills, and that if kids are not poked and prodded they will fall behind and be losers. The Lebanese mothers, in contrast, felt no urge to teach their children any particular skills before they went to school and felt kids would learn skills as they needed them; there was no sense of “it’s too late.” In addition, the Lebanese mothers were much more concerned about their children’s welfare at school. As a result, Australian teachers labeled the Lebanese kids as unprepared for school and overprotected, but the Lebanese mothers felt they were doing what was expected of any mother…
Imagine the Cambodian woman new to America who is told by her physician to make sure the baby sleeps in his own bed. Or imagine the Guatemalan woman who is confused by all the toys her new culture says she must buy for her baby’s happiness. Or what about the British woman who looks in disdain at the Nigerian woman breast-feeding in public. Now, more that ever, we need to understand how culture molds what we do and what others do. By comparing ourselves with others, and comparing each group with yet another, we also obliterate any notions of “normal.”Very interesting article, as well. If you want to read the whole thing, here's the link: http://www.mamasworldwide.com/2009/04/06/cultural-differences-in-parenting/
