Is 'Gentle Parenting' Ruining French Children?

French parenting is undergoing a significant cultural shift as a traditional, rule-bound model faces intense scrutiny from a rising "positive parenting" movement. This transition, influenced by American and Australian trends, prioritizes child-centric empathy over strict discipline, sparking a fierce national debate among experts and parents. Critics, led by psychologist Caroline Goldman, argue that this permissive approach erodes necessary boundaries, causing behavioral issues and parental burnout, while proponents advocate for mutual respect and emotional understanding. This conflict is further complicated by France's broader "parental pessimism," where high stress and insufficient societal support contribute to a declining birth rate. The tension between these two philosophies reflects a deeper struggle to define the role of children in society and the appropriate balance between adult authority and child autonomy in an era of contradictory advice.