Chinese 'cat dad' feels vindicated by daughter's success, happiness

Everyone knows the tiger mum. Now meet a cat dad - Chang Zhitao. The mainland businessman drew attention four years ago when he and Chinese-American law professor Amy Chua debated their different approaches to child raising at a public talk in Shanghai: she advocated tough love as described in Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother; he believed in giving children choices and being sensitive to their feelings.

That debate over parenting styles is now back in full swing in China, thanks to a popular television series inspired by Chua's memoir. Titled Tiger Mum, Cat Dad, the drama launched last month revolves around the conflicts arising when a pair of successful professionals try to get their five-year-old daughter into an elite school; unlike his wife, the father's parenting style is more akin to Chang's.

Chang is gratified that his daughter, Chang Shuai, has grown into a self-assured young woman who knows her own mind and takes the initiative to achieve what she wants.

After she graduated from Harvard University last summer with a degree in economics and psychology (he still gets a thrill recalling the ceremony), his daughter underwent three rounds of rigorous interviews and beat a slew of applicants to secure a job at McKinsey & Company, a management consultancy. And while waiting for her work visa, she sought an internship at a Silicon Valley start-up because she wanted to set up her own business one day and figured the experience would be useful.

Although Chang Shuai's path was not all smooth sailing, her father believes she put in the painstaking work to get ahead because she had the freedom to make her own decisions.