“We don’t understand our kids any longer!”
More and more Chinese parents find it difficult to understand their children. The problem is not the language, but the different mentality! They have done their share, because antiauthoritarian education is the norm these days. Or they let the grandparents take care of the kids. Worldwide grandparents are much more relaxed as parents … Psychologically seen, I feel that the experience from the cultural revolution works on a deeper level, making them prioritize on themselves!
The generation of the 80ies is much better educated than their parents. That leads to the kids looking down upon their parents, not always taking their opinions seriously. The Chinese 40+ believe e.g. that Westerners are more skilled. The young Chinese observe very critically, whether we do really better.
The generation of the 90ies or the internet generation is the first to go through puberty. They show the same behaviour as we do. Chinese parents are quite annoyed about that and address them as “our little egoists”.
The Chinese youth thinks and acts differently from former generations. They don’t just adjust or accept the group or the elders saying. They have very clear and ambitious targets: to become as fast as possible boss and earn lots of money. If they don’t see that career or if the workload is too heavy, they quickly leave the company. The question therefore is: what possibilities do we foreign companies have to find well-educated man power and keep them?
Find out more in the next blog!
