Mean Girls Parenting Styles Analysis

Psych & Life: Parenting Styles

Based on the parenting style definitions, both my mother and my father use the authoritative style of parenting. My parents have high expectations for both my brother and I for our future as well as to follow their rules. My brother, Tristan, and sometimes I debate with my parents, sometimes it may be about their rules and to justify why we may have disobeyed their rules. My parents encourage our independence giving us trust that we can handle keeping our grades up, keeping up with our chores, and taking care of expensive items they buy for us; thus we must show our maturity to our parents and follow their guide lines. They have limits of freedom though because we are still adolescences going through life. Whenever

Tristan or I are punished we are usually lectured about why what we did was wrong and why exactly we are being punished. Although my parents make it seem that we will be grounded and have our items of entertainment taken away, they usually forgive us for our mistake knowing we are humans, but the expect us to learn from our mistakes and not repeat them.
With this parenting style our parents used, Tristan and I both are successful in our own unique ways. For instance I am successful in school as well as in playing my instrument, and my brother is successful in his athletic training to join the United States military. Our father has taught us to talk in correct grammar and make us very articulate in our speaking. It was important for our father to teach us this especially since our mother’s predominate language used to be German. Tristan and I have a history with having our teachers as well as peers to like us primarily because we are generous to everyone even though we may dislike them (“Treat people the way you want to be treated”).
Although my parents both used the authoritative parenting style my mother sometimes mixed the authoritative style with the permissive style. In a way my mother was mainly authoritative but at times she would slack back and be the warm caring mother who was not as strict as my father is. My father never faltered from the authoritative style though. Usually though my brother and I were both raised under the authoritative style which has made us successful in life even if our mother toned down the authoritative style at times when she knew we were upset.
In the parenting style video the clip of Queen Elinor, form Disney’s film Brave, is shown to use the Authoritarian style of teaching towards her daughter Merida.

Elinor expects high expectations from Merida to conform to the traditional ways of a Scottish royal with out explaining much of what Merida should do. Merida’s outcome of rebellion towards her mother is shown throughout the movie, which is also part of the suggested outcome of a child under the authoritarian parenting style. In the film Mean Girls, Regina Georges mom, Mrs. George, is displayed as a mother who uses the permissive style of parenting. Mrs. George is a very relaxed parent and does not enforce strict rules on any of the girls and never uses punishment on them. In result Regina George matches the suggested outcomes of a child under the parenting style of permissive. Regina George does not accept her responsibility of the “Burn Book” but blames it on Cady instead; thus showing the characteristic of give-and-take of peer

relationship.
Aunt Petunia, from Harry Potter, uses the uninvolved (or neglectful) style of parenting towards her nephew, Harry Potter, whom they have been legal guardians of since the death of his parents when he was only one year old. Aunt Petunia was quite vile towards harry and never really treated him with love and basics that every child must receive. In result of Aunt Petunia and her husbands style of parenting towards Harry led to Harry to grow up feeling unloved as well as never really contacting them while he lived at Hogwarts. In Disney’s The Lion King, Mufasa uses the parenting style authoritative. Mufasa lectures and punishes Simba for going with Nala into the Mammoth Graveyard where “the light does not touch.” Simba’s actions disobeyed Mufasa’s parental rules, although instead of truly punishing Simba for his actions he forgives him. Mufasa’s parental style led Simba to become a successful king like his father later in the film, which is an out come of an authoritative raised child.
When I have children later on in my future I plan to raise them with the authoritative style of parenting.

My reason for this is not only because the outcomes of the child are greatly positive but also it is the way I was raised and I am delighted about who I am, which is exactly how I would like my children to be. I want to raise my children to love themselves no matter what anyone says, I want them to treat people with respect even if the people are not respectful themselves. I want my children to be successful in life and with everything and anything they put their minds to. Authoritative parenting is the best way to raise a child in my eyes because the must learn that the world is not fair and the must work in order to be successful. My parents raised me this way and I am successful, pleased, liked by many teachers and peer. Having a debate with my parents and sometimes my friends is even healthy because in the real world not everyone is going to agree with you. I also want my children raised under the authoritative parenting style because they must know if you disobey there will be punishments but that does not mean I do not love them any less and they will be forgiven at times, because the authoritarian style of punishment does not necessary show that you love your child if you constantly beat them. The other styles of parenting seem un-human like to either let your child control you or to neglect your child into thinking they are unloved. My children will always be

loved when I have them and I will make sure the know of it as I use the authoritative style of parenting as I raise them.