I am siding with Authoritative parenting faces challenges in some cultures. Authoritative parenting, which combines high expectations with warmth and support, can indeed face challenges in certain cultural contexts. Cultural values will play a role, as in many cultures there is a deep respect for authority and hierarchical relationships, these are very deeply ingrained in many, throughout cultures. In the business insider I read that in some instances parents may find it unnecessary to praise children for their routine tasks, leaving compliments for possible exceptional achievements. In some cultures as well some parents may prioritize obedience and discipline over the autonomy and self-expression encouraged by authoritative parenting. Then we also can run into a balancing act where finding the right balance between setting limits and setting warmth can be found demanding. All of this would require effective communication, patience, and for many cultures this could be found challenging. Some great resources i was able to read more about this subject are...

https://www.businessinsider.com/guides/parenting/authoritative-parenting

https://northernlight.nhcc.edu/northlight/parenting-styles-behavior

Both of these write ups are great reads for sources i found on the topic. Putting into wording better than which I am able.

Today, experts favor authoritative parenting over permissive, authoritarian, and neglectful parenting, believing it leads to a “better overall outcome, higher emotional regulation, and lower behavioral problems” (Awiszus, Koenigh, Vaisarova, 2022) in children. In authoritative parenting, the caregiver offers emotional support and sets clear expectations. Consequences are clear, and problems are solved together. While the parenting style may be preferred in American circles, it may face challenges in others due to cultural differences.

Adopting a more authoritative style in a collectivist-oriented culture could prove challenging since culture, beliefs, and religion play a role in shaping fundamental decisions regarding how a child is raised. In collectivist-oriented cultures, such as in some Asian countries, there is a focus on groups over individuals, and extended families play a role in child development. In these families, obedience, compliance, and parental authority reign. These are “deeply ingrained family values” (Chio et al., 2014). They skew towards an authoritarian approach to parenting, where strict rules, high standards, and putative consequences for non-compliance are the dominant parenting styles. It is a more dictatorial style of parenting. Discipline is used to elicit obedience. Expressions of warmth and affection are limited as it is thought to make the child soft and spoiled.

In contrast, an authoritative parenting style focuses on warmth and responsiveness. In these families, caregivers are more nurturing, supportive, and less punitive. Issues are discussed, and reasoning is applied to gain adherence and understanding. An authoritative parenting approach could prove challenging in collectivist-oriented cultures because the ‘deeply ingrained’ cultural values conflict with such a style. Adopting a blended approach in such cultures may prove less so, while still honoring some long-held cultural practices.

Awiszus, A., Koenig, M., & Vaisarova, J. (2022). Parenting Styles and Their Effect on Child Development and Outcome. Journal of Student Research, 11(3). https://doi.org/10.47611/jsrhs.v11i3.3679

Choi Y, Kim YS, Kim SY, Park IK. (2013). Is Asian American Parenting Controlling and Harsh? Empirical Testing of Relationships between Korean American and Western Parenting Measures. Asian American Journal of Psychology. 2013 Mar 1;4(1):19-29. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3746991

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/332940264_Intercultural_Parenting_How_Eastern_and_Western_Parenting_Styles_Affect_Child_Development

How eastern and western parenting styles affect child ... (n.d.-a). https://www.researchgate.net/publication/332940264_Intercultural_Parenting_How_Eastern_and_Western_Parenting_Styles_Affect_Child_Development

Worthy, L. D., Lavigne, T., & Romero, F. (2020, July 27). Parenting styles. Culture and Psychology. https://open.maricopa.edu/culturepsychology/chapter/parenting-styles/

The information I most related to was about cultural adaptation. It was interesting to read about it because it has been a first-hand experience for me, coming from a different country of origin and adapting to cultural norms in the United States while preserving some origin traditions. I think there is a definite authoritative parenting challenge in some cultures because of different values and ideas that are instilled in us since childhood. I could tell there was a shift from my parents’ authoritative to authoritarian parenting as we adapted to our new environment, and within time slowly observed changes in familial expectations social values.

It made me think about the challenges my parents had to face coming from a different country and having to balance different cultures and traditions. The article explained how people who immigrate have a shift in their parenting as a result to acculturation in their new environment, leading to variation of parenting from permissive to authoritative.

Masamba, H. (2024). Cultural influences on parenting styles and child development. International Journal of Humanity and Social Sciences, 2(3), 15–27. https://doi.org/10.47941/ijhss.1783

When I think of someone's parenting styles, culture, religion, languages, identity etc. I always think about how we are a product of our environment. Because of the large amounts of diversity around the world, authoritative parenting does face challenges. Not every parent and every child is in the same situation, so of course we see challenges. A part of my research that hit me was this sentence from the International Journal of Humanity and Social Sciences, "Families facing economic hardship may adopt different parenting strategies compared to those with greater financial stability."

This made me realize that even in the same cultures, we face challenges using the same parenting types, in this case authoritative parenting.

One more part of the same reading I want to include is, "Large differences also are found across cultures in the amount of physical contact parents have with their infants. For example, hunter-gatherer !Kung infants spend 90% of their first year of life in skin-to-skin contact with their mother or another caregiver as they co-sleep at night and are carried in slings attached to caregivers’ bodies during the day (Diamond, 2012). In contrast, infants in many western cultures sleep alone not only in separate beds but even in separate rooms, and during the day they are often placed in strollers, infant seats, and other devices that are not connected to parents’ bodies (Diamond, 2012)".

This is a great tell tale sign that when it comes to parenting styles it is going to vary across the world, even starting as young as infants.

Authoritative parenting is characterized by both warmth and structure. This approach faces challenges in different cultural settings. There are many influencers to as why there are challenges. Socio-economic factors converge with cultural influences which affect parenting styles. Depending on what people are going through, their parenting styles can vary. Parents must deal with their underlying issues and practice self-care, then they tend to engage more positively with their children. Many things can cause frustration and stress in life that can be challenging. "Economic stressors, such as unemployment, poverty, and housing instability, can strain family relationships and exacerbate parental stress, leading to
changes in parenting behaviors (Conger, 2012)." The article talked about how parents may use authoritarian parenting as a way of gaining control. In reality, this can have a negative impact on the child.

Cultural Influences on Parenting Styles and Child Development

For example, religions in India, like Hinduism, view women as slaves to men and often abuse them. Love is often unequally given to sons over daughters. This lack of respect and acts of favoritism destroys the possibility of authoritative parenting. In work-based countries, like Japan and China, there is no time for authoritative parenting. The children are also held to high standards and success and hard work often define a person's worth. This makes unconditional love difficult to give.

As long as a culture includes the characteristics I listed (like the U.S.), then authoritative parenting is possible. If one or more of them are lacking, the parenting style suffers.

Masamba, H. (2024). Cultural influences on parenting styles and childhood development. International Journal of Humanity and Social Sciences, 2(3), 15-27.

In today's society I feel like everyone is judging how others parent and from working in the school system, I see a lot of different types of parenting. I feel that all types of parenting face challenges in some cultures. In the article I read from "Psychology Today" it talks about how children in other countries' playtime and independence look a lot more different than those in the U.S. Some cultures have strict beliefs they have to follow which limit how they can parent. For example, in the article I stated : "For instance, in Norway and other Scandinavian countries, fresh air is considered so important that infants are bundled up even in cold winters and nap outside in their strollers. Children in Italy are usually allowed to taste wine or alcohol with the rest of their family during meals. These examples would be seen as shocking in other parts of the world where entire industries are centered around indoor play areas in winter and the legal drinking age of 18 or 21 is adhered to strictly." (Subramaniam, 2021) This source backs up my viewpoint that none of this parenting is wrong or harmful, but that each culture has their own culture-specific advantages, which can appear to others as disadvantages. For the children in Scandinavian countries that it mentioned, that around the year outdoor nap time is normalized and seen as important but if you saw that someone had a child sleeping out in the cold in the U.S. it would likely be viewed as "cruel" and "bad parenting". Just as those who have children who drink underage in the U.S are shamed as bad parents and children tend to try to hide their drinking from parents, but in Italy the article explained how children are usually allowed to taste alcohol with the family.

APA Citation:

Subramaniam, A. (2021, December 18). Parenting across cultures. Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/parenting-neuroscience-perspective/202112/parenting-across-cultures

MLA Citation:

Subramaniam, Aditi. “Parenting across Cultures.” Psychology Today, Sussex Publishers, 18 Dec. 2021, www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/parenting-neuroscience-perspective/202112/parenting-across-cultures.

Suldo, S.M., Huebner, E.S. The Role of Life Satisfaction in the Relationship between Authoritative Parenting Dimensions and Adolescent Problem Behavior. Social Indicators Research 66, 165–195 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1023/B:SOCI.0000007498.62080.1e

I believe that authoritative parenting can face challenges in some cultures for not everyone views things the same. While we tend to view things according to American Culture there are in some cases what we would view as neglectful is the normal in other cultures. According to an article I read by Touro University, "Child-rearing practices in different cultures are actually quite diverse in form, and the influence culture plays is profound." Most parents tend to raise their children with a parenting style fit with the goal in mind of shaping children to become effective adults. While authoritative parenting can be a process of that, how it looks can vary among cultures. Many factors take place as to why there are challenges with authoritative parenting. Some things that affect the way people parent in different cultures include time and effort, living space socioeconomic status, differences in beliefs, as well as a hierarchy within the culture. While authoritative parenting is known as balanced parenting a combination of expectations, security, and support cultural expectations can look different all across the world.

Bernstein, Rebecca. “Child Rearing: Parenting around the World: TUW.” Touro University Worldwide, 29 Jan. 2024, www.tuw.edu/health/child-rearing-practices-different-cultures/.

Where I live in the south, a common thread within parenting styles is for children to be seen but not heard. This popular style of parenting does not allow for the balance found in authoritative parenting. Situations call for nuance, and cultural norms can be barriers to authoritative parenting. In the article Cross-Cultural Similarities and Differences, the author points out that all parents are tasked with teaching communication to their children. When parents talk at children without listening to the child, this communication is broken.

The culture of parents can influence, hinder, or enable authorative parenting.

Authoritative parenting is the most common and recommended parenting style, especially in the United States. This parenting style is defined by nurture and support while also setting firm boundaries. Communication and listening to the child's view point are other components to this parenting style. Outcomes of children who are parented with an authoritative style includes strong social skills, self discipline, and self esteem.

Although I plan to follow an authoritative approach to parenting with my child; I do not believe this style is accepted/followed in all cultures. Coming from an Asian background, specifically Korean, I can say from experience that most parenting leans towards a authoritarian approach. In Asian countries, there is a notion of obedience and authority of the parent over open communication. This stems from Confucianism where there is an emphasis of hierarchal relationships, along with filial pity (Huang & Gove, 2015). While I do believe younger generations are more open to authoritative style parenting, there is still an underlying tone of strictness and following traditions. I believe components of authoritative parenting such as listening to the child's opinion, is deemed disrespectful in a culture that leans of filial piety.

Huang, G. H. C., & Gove, M. (2015). Asian parenting styles and academic achievement: views from eastern and western perspectives. Education, 135(3), 389+. https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A406162572/AONE?u=anon~87885253&sid=googleScholar&xid=fd138737

Authoritative parenting can be seen as a more democratic way of parenting. You give the child clear boundaries and rules, but give the resources to succeed. There is wiggle room for conversations to happen and even compromises to happen within the parent and child relationship. Due to some cultures having more strict expectations when it comes to parenting, I believe that this type of parenting does face challenges in some areas of the world. In places where children are expected to hold jobs at a young age or even raise younger siblings.

In one culture, parents don't even speak to their infants for fear of evil spirits possessing their baby and in our culture it is seen as a normal thing to talk to infants to help increase vocabulary. In the article titled Cross-Cultural Similarities and Differences in Parenting it states, "Wide differences also exist with respect to parents’ beliefs about the importance of play and whether they play with their children. Parents in agrarian or hunter-gatherer societies are more likely to regard play as unimportant to child development, whereas parents in industrialized societies are more likely to regard play as a way to foster children’s cognitive and socioemotional development (Roopnarine, 2015)."

Children respond differently to different types of parenting and what we see as normal, may not be normal to other cultures. I do not think this means we should judge other parenting styles in other cultures. Many children grow up in these cultures and are no different than you or I.

Research by Lansford highlights these challenges, as their cross-cultural study showed that authoritative parenting is not as common and universally associated with positive outcomes in all cultural contexts. Some societies have a more authoritarian approach that is driven by discipline and respect for authority that aligns more closely with cultural values. Which leads to better social adjustment for children. According to Landsford, the effectiveness of authoritative parenting is moderated by cultural context, which shows this style may be less effective in non-Western cultures. My dual perspective is that supporters argue that authoritative parenting combines high responsiveness with demands and can have universal benefits such as self-esteem, social competence, and problem-solving skills. It can also lead to better emotional, academic, and social outcomes compared to authoritarian or permissive styles. There are challenges in non-Western cultures where respect for authority and roles are more central. As Chao (1994) discusses, traditional Chinese parenting aligns more with an authoritarian style and emphasizes conformity, and family cohesion over autonomy. This is common for most cultures that are non-Western which can lead to some challenges when two partners come from different walks of life and are ow rising a child.

Source to support challenges: Chao, R. K. (1994). "Beyond parental control and authoritarian parenting style: Understanding Chinese parenting through the cultural notion of training." Child Development