In Japan and other Eastern countries, there is a term called “Monster Parents (モンスターペアレント)” that characterizes irrational parents. These monster parents are known for raising their children with authoritarianism and overprotection. Teachers face many problems with these types of parents, who make various complaints and irrational requests.
This term originated in Japan and gained significant fame in Hong Kong. The word derived from English was created by the Japanese educator Yoichi Mukoyama in 2007. This term gave rise to a dorama on Japanese TV that bears the same name as Monster Parents.
The dorama showed various real-life situations where parents of students frequently interfered in school matters and in the teaching of teachers. A manual was even created to deal with monster parents, which was delivered to over 60,000 teachers in Tokyo.
It is believed that these types of authoritarian and overprotective parents have been increasing for decades. Many parents end up gathering, arguing with teachers, or even participating in online forums.
What are Monster Parents like?
Monster Parents often force children to follow tight schedules. They restrict and control their children’s lives by prohibiting them from doing certain things and ordering unnecessary tasks. Other parents pressure their children to follow the same career as the parents or something they desire.
Parents often have extremely high expectations for their children, which causes great pressure on the kids. Some parents do not accept their children’s failures, demand high grades and good academic performance. Other parents end up becoming true monsters and causing physical or psychological harm to their children.
Monster Parents generally interfere in their children’s personal lives and try to control them. As a result, these children often end up developing anti-social personality traits and attitudes and tend to be excessively dependent on their parents.
Other monster parents only want what is best for their child. They end up worrying too much and treating their children like gods or princes, which annoys and disrupts other people involved.
Complaints from monster parents
Some monster parents are practically crazy; they question the school and teachers about things that are beyond their reach. Some parents do not want their children to participate in school cleaning. Others become furious over a simple burn or injury to their children.
Some even demand that the school pay medical expenses for a simple injury. Others complain about the fact that the child was bitten by an insect. And don’t think that this type of personality accompanies children only in elementary school. Some overprotective parents act this way even after adulthood.
Some parents are truly unbelievable. Overprotective and authoritarian parents are common in all countries, but today we learned a great term and also some absurd things we never imagined.
This may be a major culprit of social problems in Japan. Parents should not pressure their children into anything; they should let them be independent. There are constant movements and criticisms about these types of overprotective parents.
I thought about writing this article after seeing Erina’s father in the anime Shokugeki no Souma. That is a great example of a Monster Parent! Have you ever met a parent like that? We would love to see your opinion and possible comment.
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