Ep. 433: 2G Asian Parent Stories is just PMC Parenting Pt. 1
Feb 13, 2023
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In this discussion, Eliza, an expert in Asian American parenting, shares invaluable tips for parents looking to avoid the pitfalls of the rat race. Filip delves into the unique ways Professional Managerial Class (PMC) parents raise their children, questioning the true benefits of luxury items like high-end strollers and elite daycares. The hosts critique societal pressures around parenting and education, exploring how status and privilege can overshadow genuine child development needs. Together, they unwrap the complexities and anxieties faced by modern parents.
The distinction between experiencing parenthood versus critiquing it highlights the complexities and societal pressures that shape parenting choices.
Societal expectations around academic achievement lead PMC parents to invest heavily in education despite lacking evidence of its true developmental benefits.
The podcast critiques the materialistic trends in PMC parenting, emphasizing that meaningful involvement outweighs financial investments in child-rearing products.
Deep dives
The Decision to Become Parents
The podcast emphasizes the importance of discussing the lead-up to the decision of becoming parents, exploring the societal pressures that influence this choice. One key point is the distinction between those who have made the decision to have children and those who critique it without having prior experience. The discussion includes insights from a parent on the challenges of motherhood, mentioning humorous anecdotes about how parenting discussions often occur in the presence of people who lack direct experience. The speakers illustrate that once one enters the parenting phase, it brings forth a different set of complexities and societal expectations.
Navigating Social Pressures in Parenting
Parenting is often fraught with external pressures that shape an individual’s approach, as discussed in the podcast. This segment touches on how societal expectations can impose ideologies and standards on parents, making the parenting journey complex and often contentious. The speakers reflect on how these pressures fluctuate as children grow older, suggesting that early parenting experiences are marred by intense scrutiny from others. The discussion captures the notion that once parents pass through the early stages of raising their children, external judgment significantly eases.
Understanding the Professional Managerial Class (PMC)
The podcast delves into the characteristics of the Professional Managerial Class (PMC), shedding light on how this demographic shares unique parenting anxieties. The speakers explore the concept that membership in the PMC often comes with aspirations tied to educational prestige and social status. They discuss how perceived economic stability does not guarantee emotional or psychological solidity, leading to disproportionate anxiety over children's futures. There is a recognition that even well-paid professions are becoming increasingly precarious, complicating the class struggle and parenting expectations.
The Pressure of Parenting Success
Successful PMC parenting is framed around the notion of ensuring that children surpass or maintain their parents' social standing, inherently tied to academic achievement. The discussion brings forth the idea that parents invest heavily in education and extracurricular activities, framing these expenses as necessary for a child's success. This narrative is highlighted by the speakers' experiences with expensive preschool programs, where the financial outlay often seems disconnected from actual developmental outcomes. They suggest that the focus should be more on personal growth and well-being rather than merely securing a path to elite educational institutions.
Materialism and The Parenting Experience
The podcast critiques the materialistic tendencies of PMC parents, particularly regarding the endless cycle of consumerism in parenting decisions. A recurring theme is the obsession with high-priced baby products marketed as essential for child development, leading to a mountain of unnecessary financial pressures. The speakers highlight their own experiences where practical parenting often contradicts the emphasis on expensive equipment, showcasing how well-educated parents can fall into consumer traps. Ultimately, the discussion serves as a cautionary reminder that the essence of parenting transcends monetary investment and instead hinges on genuine involvement and simple, meaningful experiences.
Parenting is the topic that keeps on giving, and so Jess gets together with Eliza and Filip to talk about the peculiar way Professional Managerial Class (PMC) parents raise their kids. If the PMC obsession with spending money on bougie strollers and Harvard-prep daycares doesn’t lead to happier, more successful kids, then what’s it actually for? Eliza shares some practical advice for Asian American parents who want to escape the rat race.
Part 2 is available on Patreon for subscribers.
Join us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/planamag
Check out the new Plan A merchandise shop: planamag.com/shop/
REFERENCED RESOURCES:
The PMC Has Children from Virtue Hoarders: The Case against the Professional Managerial Class by Catherine Liu: https://publicseminar.org/essays/the-pmc-has-children/
Death of a Yuppie Dream by Barbara and John EHRENREICH: https://inthesetimes.com/article/death-of-a-yuppie-dream
The Real Class War by Julius Krein: https://americanaffairsjournal.org/2019/11/the-real-class-war/
The Characterless Opportunism of the Managerial Class by Amber A’Lee Frost: https://americanaffairsjournal.org/2019/11/the-characterless-opportunism-of-the-managerial-class/
EFPA Theme: "Escape From Plan A" by Ciel (@aerialist)
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