There is a blog called My Mom Is a Fob (www.mymomisafob.com). The name of the website probably will give most people the first impression of what a stereotypical fob (or clearly Asian immigrant) mom would normally do as an Asian parent. But, once you look at the website, you will find that this will result in disappointment to those holding such expectations. This website features lovely short stories, quotes and pictures between Asian mothers and their children. .
I love the idea on how the website is designed, especially how the website was named. Sometimes, people use the stereotypical words on purpose to actually go against those typical stereotypes, or at least, highlight the good points about them. For example, she uses the term 'fob,' on the one hand, to gain the public’s attention, but on the other hand actually resists the stereotypical Asian mother, or the title Tiger Mom, given to them by the dominant society. She also puts some pictures with stereotypical Asian signs and symbols on the top of the website, like the peace sign (often used when Asian takes pictures), sun visors which are made popular by older Asian women trying to protect their skin from the sun, and, of course, chopsticks. Moreover, after gaining much popularity, the website now connects to Facebook and Twitter and other Asian American’s blog websites, in order to continue fueling its ever-growing popularity and make it simpler to access.
One person added to the blog a post about how her mom made her a cake to celebrate graduating Law School. Rather than the typical, "Congrats" or other popular congratulating phrase. The person writes, “my mom got me a cake to celebrate my law school graduation,” with the picture of the cake her mom made for her. Her mom wrote “I’m proud” on the top of the cake. There are 95 votes about this picture and 142 people like it through Facebook. Among one of the comments, one people said, “damn, an immigrant parent saying they are proud to their child to their faces? LOL.” It is a good example that shows how some people think about immigrant parents. They believe most immigrants are too shy to, or simply don't believe in expressing their approval of their child's success. Although Asian parents may not say “I love you” to their kids all the time, there is something that non-Asian people don’t understand is that to Asian parents, actions are more powerful than words. If someone always says big words like “I love you” but never shows it, would you still think he or she really means what they say? Like her mom, she makes the cake for her daughter trying to express how she really feels. It is probably a simple thing to most people, but it is hard work for a parent who works hard and makes spare the time to make the cake for her also hard-working daughter. Immigrant parents are human beings too, and just like any other parent or person, they have the emotions when something happen in their lives and expectations on their children. Her daughter’s graduation is a big day not only to her daughter but also to her. “I’m proud”, in some people’s opinions, the mom was compared to the Tiger Mom because her daughter graduates from the law school under her cultivation.
So with that point of view, can it be considered non-Asian moms as Tiger Moms when they celebrate or make cakes for their children’s graduation of law school? Why would Tiger Mom be only associated with an Asian woman’s title? Interestingly enough, there are several movies or TV shows about Americans parents who are also tough parents and successful women. The difference between Asian and non-Asian women, or primarily Caucasian in most cases, is that people are ignorant to how tough Caucasian women can be or they will simply attempt to categorize them as some kind of heroin or being simply independent.
I love the idea on how the website is designed, especially how the website was named. Sometimes, people use the stereotypical words on purpose to actually go against those typical stereotypes, or at least, highlight the good points about them. For example, she uses the term 'fob,' on the one hand, to gain the public’s attention, but on the other hand actually resists the stereotypical Asian mother, or the title Tiger Mom, given to them by the dominant society. She also puts some pictures with stereotypical Asian signs and symbols on the top of the website, like the peace sign (often used when Asian takes pictures), sun visors which are made popular by older Asian women trying to protect their skin from the sun, and, of course, chopsticks. Moreover, after gaining much popularity, the website now connects to Facebook and Twitter and other Asian American’s blog websites, in order to continue fueling its ever-growing popularity and make it simpler to access.
One person added to the blog a post about how her mom made her a cake to celebrate graduating Law School. Rather than the typical, "Congrats" or other popular congratulating phrase. The person writes, “my mom got me a cake to celebrate my law school graduation,” with the picture of the cake her mom made for her. Her mom wrote “I’m proud” on the top of the cake. There are 95 votes about this picture and 142 people like it through Facebook. Among one of the comments, one people said, “damn, an immigrant parent saying they are proud to their child to their faces? LOL.” It is a good example that shows how some people think about immigrant parents. They believe most immigrants are too shy to, or simply don't believe in expressing their approval of their child's success. Although Asian parents may not say “I love you” to their kids all the time, there is something that non-Asian people don’t understand is that to Asian parents, actions are more powerful than words. If someone always says big words like “I love you” but never shows it, would you still think he or she really means what they say? Like her mom, she makes the cake for her daughter trying to express how she really feels. It is probably a simple thing to most people, but it is hard work for a parent who works hard and makes spare the time to make the cake for her also hard-working daughter. Immigrant parents are human beings too, and just like any other parent or person, they have the emotions when something happen in their lives and expectations on their children. Her daughter’s graduation is a big day not only to her daughter but also to her. “I’m proud”, in some people’s opinions, the mom was compared to the Tiger Mom because her daughter graduates from the law school under her cultivation.
So with that point of view, can it be considered non-Asian moms as Tiger Moms when they celebrate or make cakes for their children’s graduation of law school? Why would Tiger Mom be only associated with an Asian woman’s title? Interestingly enough, there are several movies or TV shows about Americans parents who are also tough parents and successful women. The difference between Asian and non-Asian women, or primarily Caucasian in most cases, is that people are ignorant to how tough Caucasian women can be or they will simply attempt to categorize them as some kind of heroin or being simply independent.
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