Princess sickness explained

Princess sickness, alternatively known as princess complex, princess syndrome or princess disease (Vietnamese: bệnh công chúa; ; Korean: 공주병; Revised Romanization: gong ju byeong), is a neologism used colloquially in East and Southeast Asia to describe a condition of narcissism and materialism in women, or "princess" behaviour.[1] [2] Conversely but less commonly, men with a similar outlook may be described as having "prince" sickness.[3]

It is speculated that the term originated with the rise of the Four Asian Tigers across Asia, in which rapid economic growth may have contributed to a corresponding rise in consumerist or materialistic attitudes and upper classes investing heavily in their children, who might subsequently become accustomed to material wealth and domestic help.[4]

Causes

In Mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan, low birth rates have meant that families often have an only child (one child) who is the sole focus of their parents' attention (and in some instances, both sets of grandparents attention as well).[5] In Mainland China, the resultant phenomenon, often attributed to the former one-child policy, is known as the 'Little Emperor Syndrome'. A combination of helicopter parenting, snowplow parenting, and the employment of domestic workers (housemaids), allowing middle-class parents to work long hours, can contribute to their children being spoiled.[6] A widening income gap in Hong Kong, along with concerns over democracy and social inequality, also reflects the perceived attitudes of the 'elite' classes.[7] [8]

Furthermore, social mobility in East Asia is primarily based on personal and academic achievement.[9] For that reason, parents may place a great deal of academic pressure on both children and their teachers, micro-managing their child's academic career to achieve higher grades.[10] [11] Some suggest that this results in dependence or a lack of responsibility.

In popular culture

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: HK princesses rattle local hikikomori. South China Morning Post. 9 April 2009 . 2016-05-04.
  2. Web site: 公主病 – on princess syndrome and tough relationships. myhongkonghusband. Lina. 12 October 2013. My Hong Kong Husband. 4 May 2016. 6 December 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211206071813/https://myhongkonghusband.com/2013/10/12/%E5%85%AC%E4%B8%BB%E7%97%85-on-princess-syndrome-and-tough-relationships/. dead.
  3. Web site: THE PRINCESS SYNDROME: EMERGING CHANGES IN CHINESE SOCIETY « USI – Blog. usiblog.in. 2016-05-04. 2016-08-16. https://web.archive.org/web/20160816074923/http://usiblog.in/2015/09/the-princess-syndrome-emerging-changes-in-chinese-society/. dead.
  4. Book: Ediciones Universidad de Salamanca . 2012 . Empiricism and analytical tools for 21 Century applied linguistics: selected papers from the XXIX International Conference of the Spanish Association of Applied Linguistics (AESLA). 451. 9788490121542.
  5. Web site: Hong Kong's low birth rate blamed on women's "sexual problems" . Speed . Barbara . 30 September 2014 . CityMetric Horizons . CityMetric . 3 October 2014.
  6. Web site: Wong. Bill. Monster/Helicopter Parents and Their Children's Independence. 29 March 2013. 25 December 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181225201300/https://otconnections.aota.org/community_blogs/user_blogs/b/humancalculatorot/archive/2011/02/03/monster-helicopter-parents-and-their-children-s-independence.aspx. dead.
  7. Web site: Hong Kong's pro-democracy movement is about inequality. The elite knows it . Carroll . Toby . 28 July 2014 . the Guardian . theguardian.com . 3 October 2014.
  8. Web site: Hong Kong Poverty Line Shows Wealth Gap With One in Five Poor . Hu . Fox . Yun . Michelle . 30 September 2013 . Bloomberg . 3 October 2014.
  9. Web site: 2009–2010 Hong Kong Policy Address. Hong Kong SAR Government. 29 March 2013.
  10. News: Tomohiro. Osaki. Exasperated teacher takes on Japan's 'monster parents'. 29 March 2013. CNN Travel. 27 January 2011.
  11. News: Why Chinese Mothers Are Superior. Chua. Amy. 2011-01-08. Wall Street Journal. 0099-9660. 2016-05-04.
  12. Web site: Introduction of Jay Chou's music album. 29 March 2013. 25 December 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181225201307/http://www.jvrmusic.com/artist/work-album_full.asp?id=80&artistid=1. dead.

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