Physical Discipline Theme in Born a Crime Essay Example

Imagine your son has been missing for 2 hours after you sent him to buy groceries. So, you begin to worry and arrive at the store, only to find him playing arcade games with the spare change. What would be your first thought? To beat him? Well, physical violence in the States gets frowned upon as a technique of discipline. Studies have revealed that spanking can lead to an abusive environment. That disciplinary beatings could harm the child’s relationship with their family. In some African cultures, they're referred to as hidings. These families use them to ensure obedience in childhood. Trevor, an irrational mixed boy, must grow up with his strict and justice-driven mother. However, Patricia Noah and Trevor Noah in the book, Born a Crime, as mother and son, prove that if you use physical discipline properly, it can strengthen family bonds, challenge the child’s thinking, and prepare them for the future. Patricia Noah’s hidings were strengthening her and Trevor Noah’s relationship.

In the chapter, Loopholes, Trevor Noah writes, “I destroyed pianos. I shat on floors. I would screw up, [my mother]’d beat the shit out of me and give me time to cry, and then she’d pop back into my room with a big smile and go, ‘Are you ready for dinner? We need to hurry and eat if we want to watch Rescue 911. Are you coming?’” (Noah, PDF:284). To sum it up, Patricia Noah used beatings to discipline Trevor Noah, yet simultaneously expressed her love. This scene illustrates her intent as pure and guarantees her child's awareness that the consequences are for his growth. This mends the bond from the beating and creates trust. Hence, why Trevor’s faith in his mother even when she shoved him off the bus demonstrates such result. “Had I lived a different life, getting thrown out of a speeding minibus might have fazed me. I’d have stood there like an idiot, going, ‘What’s happening, Mom? Why are my legs so sore?’ But there was none of that. Mom said ‘run,’ and I ran. Like the gazelle runs from the lion, I ran.” Noah, PDF:61-2). Even in such a panicking setting, the instinctual trust from their bond kept them out of danger's way. Adding on, while Trevor was getting beaten by his stepfather, Abel, for forging his mom’s signature. Trevor wrote, “It wasn’t discipline. Nothing about it was coming from a place of love,” (Noah, PDF:835).  Even then, Trevor Noah knew the difference between his mother’s kind-hearted will and Abel’s anger-driven motive. In other words, Patricia Noah’s disciplinary technique is unlike Abel’s, for her actions are due to wanting Trevor to be his best. She separates punishment and affection, which causes Trevor not to develop anger issues.

Beating your kid can also challenge their thinking. For instance, his hometown was his playground as he wrote “You couldn’t catch me in my neighborhood. I knew every alley and every street, every wall to climb over, every fence to slip through. I was ducking through traffic, cutting through yards. I have no idea when he gave up because I never looked back. I ran and ran and ran, as far as my legs would carry me.” (Noah, PDF:478-9). This was due to his mother chasing him to punish him as a kid all the time. (Noah, PDF:38-9). Thanks to Patricia Noah’s training, Trevor could defend himself from his stepfather's endangerment. In case of any emergencies, he could bring himself to safety. Furthermore, when Trevor Noah stole alcohol-filled chocolates, in the chapter, Colorblind. After being caught red-handed, however, by instinct, Trevor Noah blasted off with his friend. Even though this wasn’t lawful of Trevor, it brought him to safety. “As a kid, wherever I went, whatever building I was in, I was always plotting my escape. You know, in case shit went down. In reality I was a nerdy kid with almost no friends, but in my mind I was an important and dangerous man who needed to know where every camera was and where all the exit points were” (Noah, PDF:479). These capabilities and signs of creativity derived from his mother’s parental guidance.

Ultimately, physical punishment can also benefit your child as it gives them experience of what’s right or wrong. This especially applies when Trevor writes, “When it came to discipline, Catholic school was no joke. Whenever I got into trouble with the nuns at Maryvale they’d rap me on the knuckles with the edge of a metal ruler. For cursing they’d wash my mouth out with soap. For serious offenses I’d get sent to the principal’s office. Only the principal could give you an official hiding. You’d have to bend over and he’d hit your ass with this flat rubber thing, like the sole of a shoe.” (Noah, PDF:285-6). During the beating, Trevor laughed, imagining how nice it’d be for his mother to beat him in such a lenient manner. (Noah, PDF:286). Patricia Noah's beatings developed for Trevor's resistance against light spankings. Naturally, as a kid, he found these punishments unjustified and thus disobeyed by consuming all the grape juice and crackers. To them, Trevor being Jewish in a Catholic school was all the reason to discriminate against him.(Noah, PDF:290). Disregarding if revenge is your cup of tea or not, Trevor refused to have his youth taken advantage of. This is especially important in all general fields such as race, sex, or looks. You wouldn’t want your salary cut just because you favored red over green. Trevor’s unusual behavior resulted in the school calling his mother about how psychotic they saw him as. Trevor Noah’s mother’s reaction being, “Well, clearly you don’t know how to hit a kid. That’s your problem, not mine. Trevor’s never laughed when I’ve hit him, I can tell you.” (Noah, PDF:294) If Trevor couldn’t differentiate the mistreatment, he’d be more compliant with their infringement of moral rights. However, Trevor was able to differentiate the moralities due to his mother’s beatings. 

Regardless of Patricia's expertise within this field, Abel and Trevor's principal demonstrate the effect of blunders. Those which consequently harmed Trevor's mental wellbeing. This highlights the importance of properly catering to your child’s love in order to have your physical lectures to build family trust, enrich your child’s mental capability, and prepare them for adulthood. Most parents nowadays would choose to ground and restrict their children, but like providing beatings as a consequence, it has its side effect of rebellion. On that note, what way of discipline would you offer your child?