Indian Parents and Society
In India, parenting is a mix of love, discipline and high expectations. In the Western context, growing up generally means independence, but in India, kids can be much older than in Western countries. Still deeply mired in traditional society, under their mother’s or father’s influence, even adult Indian youth must obey their parents’ command.
But how does this affect children? Could it be effeminate or advantageous? In a world of globalism, can Indian parents keep their traditions and not lose their offspring? Who is the future?
1. The Expectations of Indian Parents
Parents in India often think they have a set idea of the direction in which their children should go.
Academic Pressure
In childhood, children are taught that good grades are a ticket to success. Many households have heard the phrase, “Beta, 90% se kam number aaye toh achha nahi lagta” (Scoring below 90% is unacceptable). Parents expect their children to thrive in classwork; if these offspring sometimes also happen to have talent or inclination, so much the better.
Career Choices: Engineering, Medical, or Government Jobs
The most coveted career paths in India have traditionally included engineering, medicine, or government jobs. If a child shows an interest in the arts—say theater, music or sports—they often face parental objection. Why? Financial stability seemed more important than their passion for life.
Marriage and Family Expectations
After a child completes their studies and gets a job, the next step is marriage. Parents, who are wedged with the pressure exerted by relatives and neighbors, insist that their children marry by the age of 25, especially if they are daughters. The idea of “log kya kahenge” runs through all thinking.
2. The Role of Society in Parenting
Indian parenting styles are greatly influenced by society.
Cultural Norms and Parenting
While these are good values, open communication between parents and children is lacking. Decisions are often imposed instead of discussed options, and children, too, get cast in their parents’ images.
Comparison with Western Parenting
Western parents generally allow children to make their own career and life choices. Indian parents, however, are responsible for their children’s futures. As a result, they must decide every decision their child makes. This leads to a cycle in which children are not encouraged to take risks or to think things out alone.
Societal Pressure on Parents
However, society is also placing tremendous pressure on parents. A father who lets his child go into alternative employment is often criticized. A mother who does not force her child into marriage is regarded as the talk about Irish mothers—indifferent, unthinking and off her head. To avoid such criticism, they are forced to establish stringent regulations, even if they do not heartily agree with them.
3. The Impact of These Expectations on Children
While parents have the best interests of their children at heart, expecting too much can have unintended negative consequences.
Mental Health Issues
Because of the pressure exerted on them by their families and society, many Indian students suffer from anxiety, depression and stress. Quiz them about their lives, and you will find people who are forced to give up their hopes and even suppress their dreams to ensure they do not disappoint their parents.
The Burden of High Expectations
Rahul is a bright student from Delhi who was forced into engineering despite his love for music. He finished his degree and was depressed. Eventually, he went into music, but years of emotional struggle left him with low self-confidence. Thousands of students in India have had much the same sort of experience he had.
Lack of Decision-Making Skills
As children, Indians do not usually have to make any major decisions. Habitually thinking so little for themselves has an impact on all-out go-getting when they grow up. This reliance extends into their work and personal lives.
People are living differently than they used to. This week’s Face to Face will discuss the ever-closer borders between countries.
4. Successful Change by None-Engineering Ways
Ananya loved fashion, but her parents urged her into the engineering profession. Two years later, after working in IT for 24 months, she decided to quit because no one should live that kind of life. The first bank received some of its initial funding, and shareholders were practical men.
Breaking the Traditional Role of Marriage Partners
Pooja, 28, lives in Mumbai and does not want to be cowed by her family. She chooses to live without marrying. It was not long before her parents also accepted this decision as one, they could understand. Her story encourages young Indians to stand up for their own choices.
5. How Indian Parenting Can Evolve for the Better
Cultural traditions can be preserved while change occurs.
Encourage Open Dialogues
Rather than simply imposing decisions on their children, parents should discuss them with them. By identifying what they’re good at and where their interests lie, kids are more likely to enjoy their future lives and work.
Mental Health Instead of Social Approval
Parents need to make their child’s mental health a top priority. Good physiological condition is crucial for academic and career success and for the happiness in life that results.
Juggling Tradition and Modern Parenting
Respect your elders and keep family traditions alive, but give your children some freedom, too. It is a question of balance. Kids need guidance without being bossed around all their lives.
Indian parents and society are deeply intertwined. While traditions and cultural values are important, expecting too much of their children sometimes puts them under severe pressure for no good reason at all. By freeing up parents to pursue tradition and modern values, parents will ensure their kids live better lives in the future. Life is certain to be respectable at that!
Well, what do you think? Should Indian parenting change, or should tradition remain unchanged? Let’s get together and rumble over!
FAQ
1. Why do Indian mothers and fathers put so much stress upon education?
Indian parents believe that higher education ensures a secure future, a good social status and financial prosperity. Limited job opportunities in India’s past forced people to make sure they secured academic success. Moreover, society is one that puts heavy pressure on families to continually compare their children with those of other families, which encourages parents to focus solely on pursuing high marks while ignoring the child’s mental health and natural learning abilities.
2. Why do Indian parents prefer engineering and medicine to other careers?
This kind of work is seen as secure, has good professional standing, and pays well too. In the past, India had fewer different kinds of work to offer, so they thought that engineering, medicine and government jobs like those held out the best hope. This viewpoint has been handed down through the generations, so even now, parents don’t want their children to become artists, athletes, or entrepreneurs for fear that it might not always bring an income.
3. How does society affect Indian parents?
For example, there are fixed ideas in society about what success is, what career to pursue and so on, with any parent who deviates from these norms feeling as if they have been judged. “Log kya kahenge” (What will people say?) also has a great deal of influence on parenting, so that parents put striving for societal acceptance before everything about their children—whether it’s personal choices and interests or even fact life might be good for them
4. How can Indian parents aid their children’s dreams?
Parents can be patient listeners without making judgments, encourage their children to grow in ability and help them consider what they might become. Knowing that success takes many forms—beyond the traditional professions—is very helpful. Nurturing a child’s ambition instead of imposing a premeditated career path brings lasting happiness and effectiveness.
5. Why do Indian parents meddle in their children’s matters of marriage?
In India, marriage concerns the whole family, and parents are of the opinion that they must take responsibility for finding a suitable mate who is neither from another caste, nor another religion, nor without resources – and that someone who might also uphold honor in the family. They are afraid their son or daughter’s independent choice will be out of step with what is expected and thus contrary to society’s standards, which would bring shame on them all.
6. How can children persuade their parents to accept new career ambitions?
It would be one of the first things to do. Once their parents understand the entire situation, they naturally support it.
7. Why do Indian parents compare their children with others?
Society in this country is competitive. Parents use comparisons to stimulate anticipation and progress among children. Therefore, it’s the opposite State. They feel that if their child slacks off academically or professionally, it might affect the children, too. However, this mentality, well-intentioned though it may be, often backfires, with stress and low self-esteem established, as well as unhealthy sibling or peer relations.
8. What if the child feels protesting under immense parental pressure?
Open communication is vital. Speak loudly but do express concerns, set limits, and seek support from mentors or counselors. Balancing personal aspirations with family obligations can put a young person under great pressure, but by constantly striving to prove one’s capabilities in various spheres of life, that balanced idea about things can gradually infiltrate those parents as well, and people will be more receptive over time.
9. Do Indian parents treat sons and daughters differently?
Take gender-based parenting it’s more than skin deep. One way of showing this is sons generally enjoy more freedom and dignity. Meanwhile, daughters are limited in their work and social lives, even with marriage issues being decided by convention rather than common sense. Nevertheless, the situation is gradually changing under modern-style parenting, and many parents are seeking to provide an equal education for boys and girls. Managers of home and career independence.
10. If children want to settle down abroad, what can they do for their parents?
Parents consider living abroad to good reputation foreign opportunities. Children are deemed to be better off in foreign countries, they think overseas jobs pay higher, living conditions are better, and there’s greater prospect of career advancement. Besides, many people take the view that this also serves as a deposit for the future of their children so that when the time comes, their offspring will be wealthy and honored.
11. How can Indian parents harmonize traditional education with modern youth?
Total flexibility. Parents would uphold a culture of respect and moral norms, with the children calling the shots. Instead of strict regulations, candid talks, mutual respect and a mix of traditional well as individual choice cooperate to bring about a healthy atmosphere between parent children.
12. Can we change Indian parenting styles without letting down our cultural inheritance?
Yes. By integrating modern points of view while retaining traditions, parents can use their culture to teach respect, discipline, and self-belief; at the same time, their offspring are free individuals. With open-mindedness, adaptability, and valuing the children’s individuality, there is room for positive change without losing the family legacy.