#9: Argument and Counter Argument

Points of my Argument:

• Counter argument: Financial independence is too shallow of a definition of success.
• If we use that perspective, tiger parenting works because of a lot of Asian Americans are financially independent and outwardly successful, but at a major cost.
• Asian American students feel like they do not belong, lack connection to their family members, suffer from mental health issues, and struggle with trying to develop their sense of self.
• Argument: Self-determination theory is a better way to define success because it encompasses more than just financial independence. The following factors lead an individual to adjust better to adulthood overall.
• Autonomy: Asian American college students often have a low sense of autonomy since they do not feel like their actions are their own. In conjunction with "shaming", Asian Americans appear more disciplined but are less likely to explore their desires as an individual, leading to picking certain majors based off of what their parents want, etc.
• ex. Diana got all the way to applying for medical school without even questioning why she was on that career path.
• Competence: College students may feel less likely to be able to try something new or approach a problem correctly the first time. Tiger parents tend to use "shaming" as my way is the only way approach to problem-solving. This kind of parenting leads students to be a lot less likely to have good self-esteem when taken out of their comfort zones, thus leading to less independence.
• Relatedness: Tiger cubs are less likely to have a strong sense of family obligation when compared to students raised with supportive parents.

Working Thesis: Tiger parenting is relatively effective to get college students prepared for adulthood in terms of financial independence and getting into better universities, it is evident that tiger parenting has other components to it that affect a person's competence, relatedness, and feelings of autonomy that can have damaging psychological effects that carry on into adulthood.

Research Question and how I intend to answer that question: How does tiger parenting affect a college student?

• I'm going to use Vasquez's explanation of self-determination theory and use it as a frame to bring context to what Zaloom's definition of success should be.

How I disagree with one source that represents an opposing view from mine: I disagree with Zaloom's definition of success as her viewpoint is very shallow and does not encompass any emotional aspects of tiger parenting. 

Do the different sides focus on different aspects of the problem? Yes, they definitely focus on different aspects of the problem. To a certain extent, of course, financial independence is a huge part of adulthood and what it means to be a well-adjusted person. Zaloom covers that important aspect of taking success for face value. Vasquez is the other side of the argument, which is about the emotional development of a tiger cub.