Asian Stoicism |
Traditional Asian cultures pride themselves on emotional and physical control. Yet this restraint has become so exaggerated that it keeps Asian parents from showing any form of physical or emotional affirmation to their children. This detriment, unfortunately, can impact a child’s sense of self and the relationship with their parents, with children questioning if their parents love them unconditionally.
Culturally, Asians have suppressed emotional expression both verbally and non-verbally as a means of saving face. Saving face in Asian cultures is not only a way to preserve your identity and garner respect, but it also speaks to the larger collective of doing so for your family name. In other words, if you lost control of your emotions, it would be viewed as a mark of shame for yourself and your lineage.
Love is also communicated through action as opposed to words. The adage, “action speaks louder than words,” is very much applicable to Asians. From the traditional parents’ perspective, they are demonstrating love by providing food, shelter, and financial stability (paying for children’s