Culture of Respect for Parents: Never Reacting Even When Your Parents Hurt or Disrespect You?

[Teri W]

I come from a culture that is very conservative. In my culture, respect for your parents is absolute. You dare not talk back at your parents. That's disrespect at the highest level. Here comes the question.

How does one handle the mental and emotional burden growing up in such a culture and you have parents that talk down on you and disrespect you? Never react? Stay silent and move on?

 

[Fidelia]

It hurts when you're being reprimanded. I've had to sit and talk with my parents hours after being reprimanded and they came to agree that I'm no longer a child so they now treat me with utmost respect simply because I was able to speak with them respectfully.

 

[Hazel]

Respecting parents is a cultural virtue, yet never reacting to hurt risks enabling abuse. True respect means setting calm boundaries, establishing dialogue, and ensuring self-protection. Mutual dignity, not silent endurance, upholds honor.

 

[Shree]

I was raised with that idea, but it wasn’t really practiced in my family. I feel strict expectations of never reacting can be harmful if it ignores your feelings. Respect can exist alongside expressing hurt or setting boundaries, it doesn’t have to mean silent acceptance.