Photo: Meme site
China reportedly has more English speakers right now than America. But how do the Chinese manage to raise such stereotypically successful kids? The answer is simple: the so called “tiger moms”, who allow no TV, no computer games, no endlessly listening to music and other such restrictions.
If you think we’re being stereotypical and exaggerating this, we’re really not, as in the ever growing Chinese middle class hierarchy, mothers impose a sort of ‘eat or be eaten’ attitude on their children, that must speak at least one foreign language, play one instrument professionally or be an ace in math.
Bloomberg puts an automotive spin on this story, saying that tiger moms are behind the fastest growing segment of the world’s largest market by volume. They even give an example of one such woman, Zhou Na, a 37-year-old Beijing mother, who says her BMW X5 is just what she needs to drive her eight-year-old son to Kung Fu and English classes on weekends to the Children’s Palace of Beijing before joining her friends for yoga.
In 2011, SUV demand increased 20 percent from a year before that, triple the overall market trend. During the first few months of 2012, the trend has continued, and the market is reportedly woman-driven.
“For tiger moms -- and other moms -- SUVs offer great appeal as the whole family can be transported safely and in style,” said Trevor Hale, Ford’s Shanghai-based spokesman, in reference to the nickname coined by author Amy Chua for strict Chinese mothers. “We see great potential to grow this segment and are bringing more of our SUVs to China.”
Bigger is always going to be better in China, the land of the extended wheelbase sedan. But families that are more well to do have begun buying second cars for the women who raise their children and SUV are prime picks.
Let’s try not to fool ourselves here, the educated elites like people working in finance for example can afford to buy high end vehicles, but with the market being so large in China there are plenty of customers, even for something as outrageous as a Lamborghini SUV.
Yes, when an Asian woman buys a two-ton off-roader to drive some children to their advanced trigonometry lessons, it’s a status thing. And so is ordering your child to get straight As.
Bloomberg puts an automotive spin on this story, saying that tiger moms are behind the fastest growing segment of the world’s largest market by volume. They even give an example of one such woman, Zhou Na, a 37-year-old Beijing mother, who says her BMW X5 is just what she needs to drive her eight-year-old son to Kung Fu and English classes on weekends to the Children’s Palace of Beijing before joining her friends for yoga.
In 2011, SUV demand increased 20 percent from a year before that, triple the overall market trend. During the first few months of 2012, the trend has continued, and the market is reportedly woman-driven.
2012 Year of the Tiger mom
China’s middle class has a more buying power than ever now, and this shows in the luxury market primarily. The Beijing auto show is just around the corner now, and a clear focus has been placed on such vehicles by Mercedes, BMW and even Ford who will be introducing the Kuga/Escape there.“For tiger moms -- and other moms -- SUVs offer great appeal as the whole family can be transported safely and in style,” said Trevor Hale, Ford’s Shanghai-based spokesman, in reference to the nickname coined by author Amy Chua for strict Chinese mothers. “We see great potential to grow this segment and are bringing more of our SUVs to China.”
Bigger is always going to be better in China, the land of the extended wheelbase sedan. But families that are more well to do have begun buying second cars for the women who raise their children and SUV are prime picks.
Attention Craving?!
Some might say that this is only a question of splurging on previously unobtainable goods. And this is indeed somewhat the case. Much of these new riches have been made by cutting corners and semi-illicit activities. So an intense craving for attention arrises as a result.Let’s try not to fool ourselves here, the educated elites like people working in finance for example can afford to buy high end vehicles, but with the market being so large in China there are plenty of customers, even for something as outrageous as a Lamborghini SUV.
Yes, when an Asian woman buys a two-ton off-roader to drive some children to their advanced trigonometry lessons, it’s a status thing. And so is ordering your child to get straight As.
Google News