Chua’s thesis is that, when compared to Americans, Chinese children tend to be successful because they have “tiger mothers,” whereas Western mothers are pussycats, or worse. Chua’s daughters, Sophia and Louise, were never allowed to watch television, play computer games, sleep over at a friend’s home, or be in a school play.
按照蔡美儿的理论，中国孩子之所以比美国孩子更成功，是因为他们背后都有一位“虎妈”，而西方母亲相比之下只能算是小猫，甚至什么都不是。蔡美儿从不允许她的两个女儿索菲亚和路易斯看电视，打游戏，在同学家过夜或者参与学校活动，而是让她们每日苦练钢琴或小提琴。而这都是为了能让她们在除体操和戏剧之外的所有科目中名列前茅。