Monster Parents – the monster and overprotective parents

In Japan and other Eastern countries, there is a term called "Monster Parents" (モンスターペアレント) that describes a particular breed of irrational parents. These Monster Parents are known for raising their children with an authoritarian and overprotective style. Teachers face significant problems with these parents, who file countless complaints and place completely unreasonable demands on the school.

The term was coined in Japan and became especially popular in Hong Kong. The English expression was created by Japanese educator Yoichi Mukoyama in 2007. It later inspired a Japanese TV drama of the same name: Monster Parents.

The drama depicted a number of real-life situations in which parents of students constantly interfered in school affairs and in the work of teachers. A handbook on how to deal with Monster Parents was even created and distributed to more than 60,000 teachers in Tokyo.

It is widely believed that this type of authoritarian and overprotective parent has been on the rise for decades. Many of these parents end up gathering in groups, arguing with teachers, or even taking their grievances to online forums.

What are Monster Parents like?

Monster Parents often force their children to follow strict schedules. They restrict and control their children's lives by forbidding certain activities and piling on unnecessary tasks. Other parents pressure their children to follow the same career path as the parents, or to do something the parents themselves have always wanted.

These parents tend to have extremely high expectations of their children, which puts the kids under enormous pressure. Some parents do not accept any failure, demand top grades, and insist on excellent academic performance. Others end up becoming genuine monsters who inflict physical or psychological harm on their own children.

Monster Parents generally interfere in their children's personal lives and try to control every aspect of them. As a result, these children often end up developing anti-social personality traits and tend to be excessively dependent on their parents.

Other Monster Parents truly only want what is best for their child. They end up worrying far too much and treating their children like gods or little princes, which often annoys and inconveniences the people around them.

Complaints from Monster Parents

Some Monster Parents are practically unhinged; they question the school and teachers about things that are simply not in their control. Some parents do not want their children to participate in cleaning the school. Others fly into a rage over a tiny scratch or a minor injury to their child.

Some even demand that the school pay the medical bills for a small scratch. Others complain that their child was bitten by an insect. And do not think this kind of personality only shows up in elementary school – some overprotective parents behave this way well into their children's adult lives.

Some parents are truly unbelievable. Overprotective and authoritarian parents exist in every country, but today we have a fitting term for them, along with some absurd examples we could hardly have imagined.

This phenomenon may be a major contributor to the social problems Japan faces. Parents should not pressure their children into anything and should let them grow up independently. There are ongoing movements and criticism aimed at these overprotective parent types.

I came up with the idea for this article after watching Erina's father in the anime Shokugeki no Souma. He is a textbook example of a Monster Parent! Have you ever met a parent like that? We would love to hear your thoughts and any comments you may have.

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