Reaction Paper #1
Well, I think it's safe to say that Japanese culture certainly isnt how I thought it was. Going into Asian Studies 150, I thought I had a pretty good idea of what life was like in Japan, but what I knew just grazed the tip of the iceberg. What perhaps surprised me the most was the way that both children and adolescents were both raised.
I was shocked at the video we watched in class when we got a look at a preschool/kindergarten class in Japan. I thought it was insane that the institution allowed both boys and girls to run around outside shirtless to play in temperatures close to freezing. This in my opinion is a bit of an extreme way to "toughen up" the youngsters. The children can get very sick from such exposure and it was evident that there were quite a few children who were uncomfortable with the situation they were put in. If they wanted to toughen up kids or instill discipline I dont understand why they can't just have them play sports or something or learn not to be a sore loser if they don't win a board game for instance.
Another situation we discussed was Ikuji, which are the childrearing practices in Japan. As opposed to here in America, Japanese families focus on teaching their kids good and bad by reasoning or by playing with their emotions. For example, when I was a tot I used to throw everything that I picked up, which would sometimes result in breaking something fragile. My mom would yell at me and hit me on the hand which would both scare me and cause me pain. Not wanting to experience either again, I slowly but surely stopped throwing things. On the other hand, if a child was to do that in Japan, he would be told not to do that because he hurt the broken item's feelings, rather than just tell him not to do it because it is wrong. Even though the American way is more extreme, I believe it gets the point across better to the child.
The last thing I remember in particular about raising kids has to do with girls in the process of becoming Geisha. These girls are required to move into a Geisha training center and to break all connections to family for an extended period of time. This is around age 15-16, which I feel is an age where parental guidance is key to the development of a young adult. On the other hand, Japanese school girls get to do travel Japan's cities, have technology, and wear whatever they'd like. Quite different upbringings for teenage girls.
What is your opinion of how children are brought up in Japan and in the United States?
I agree with what you said in regards to punishing children. Although children may not always understand why something is not right, they do quickly learn that their behavior is not appropriate. After learning that what they are doing is wrong, they will learn why it is not right in the future. I think Japanese forms of punishment, explaining something is hurt by your actions, simply reflects some of their cultural views. I do believe American culture is better, but that may just be because it is what I have experienced my whole life.
ReplyDeleteIts interesting how they were so severe at the preschool class in japan to try and toughen up, while their method of teaching discipline is much more passive. Perhaps the toughening up of the children causes their to be less need for severe punishments. They understand it could be worse maybe? How they raise children is definitely much different in Japan than the United States though.
ReplyDeleteI think Japan's childrearing practices are extremely different from us here. This because of the cultural values. It seems they are more strict but at the same time passive.
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