Does Scootaloo have Asian Parents? · 4:03am May 21st, 2017
Okay, so I saw “Parental Glideance,” and in the episode, Scootaloo tells Rainbow Dash that she wishes that her parents were as supportive and encouraging as Dash’s parents are. A lot of fans interpreted it to mean that either Scootaloo is an orphan, which is an extremely popular headcanon, or that her parents are horribly neglectful, assuming that they’re still living.
At the same time, there is one admittedly tiny flaw in interpreting Scootaloo’s statement in these ways. Both theories somewhat assume that the way Rainbow’s parents show affection is a pretty close if exaggerated example of how parents normally show affection to their children. Okay, maybe it’s normal for white parents in North America to be that openly encouraging and affectionate with their kids, but I personally grew up with Asian parents, and the only times I have heard my parents say, “We’re proud of you” or a variation thereof were whenever they ended up talking to one of my teachers after an awards ceremony. The teacher would say, “Your daughter is such a good student,” and Mom and/or Dad would say, “We know. We are very proud.”
Furthermore, my parents weren’t exactly the most enthusiastic of cheerleaders. Then again, how do you even cheerlead for someone for being a good student? I guess what I’m trying to say is that they never said that I was the best or awesome at anything. Whenever my siblings and I didn’t do well, they would say, “We know you can do better than that, but okay, you’ll do better next time,” and whenever we did do well, we never really got anything more than “Good job. Keep it up.” However, in many Asian cultures, enthusiastically giving your kid a lot of praise is considered immodest, and an obvious lack of modesty is heavily frowned on, so my parents’ responses to my accomplishments weren’t all that surprising. Based on videos I’ve seen on YouTube from other Asian Americans, they’re experiences with their parents have been pretty similar.
Maybe Scootaloo didn’t get the encouragement that she so craves because she has the Equestrian equivalent of Asian parents. As relatable as that explanation would be, that’s probably not the case. Even though Asian parents don’t express their affection as overtly as non-Asian parents do, based on YouTube and personal experience, kids who grow up with them NEVER doubt that their love and support are there. Besides, Asian parents tend to express their love by working their limbs to the bone to put their kids to school and by making sure that they don’t go hungry, and most Asian kids KNOW this. Scootaloo, on the other hand, seems to imply that her parents, assuming that they’re living, either didn’t value her accomplishments or didn’t believe that she could be capable of anything. Asian parents probably won’t burst into tears or squee over their kids’ achievements, but they will express their pride and approval however subtly. Furthermore, Asian parents, more often than not, believe in their kids more than the kids believe in themselves. It’s the reason why they can be kind of demanding sometimes. So, does Scootaloo have Asian parents?
Probably not.
It's also possible that Scootaloo's parents are simply not there due to work, that Scoots is a lachkey chid and her parents are often at work and when they are home to tired to cheer and express support.
4541171 I personally have this headcanon that Scootaloo's dad is deployed in the military. I've got nothing for why her mom wouldn't be able to give her enough attention.
4541301 well there was an episode in season 6 with a background unicorn with Scootaloo's coat and mane color and was a mime... she she can't talk and because the father is posted so far away she has to work long hours to support Scootaloo and it's likely tgat niether parents are pegasi so they really can't relate to the one thing their daughter wants support in. Just a thought.