Third Culture Kids

Third Culture Kids

There was no funeral.No flowers.No ceremony.No one had died.No weeping or wailing. Just in my heart.I can’t…But I did anyway,And nobody knew I couldn’t.I don’t want to…But nobody else said they didn’t.So I put down my panicand picked up my luggageand got on the plane.There was no funeral.

--”Mock Funeral” by Alex Graham James

Definition of ‘Third Culture Kid’

• “A Third Culture Kid (TCK) is a person who has spent a significant part of his or her developmental years outside the parents’ culture. The TCK builds relationships to all of the cultures, while not having full ownership in any. Although elements from each culture are assimilated into the TCK’s life experience, the sense of belonging is in relationship to others of similar background.” (Pollock and Van Reken, 1999)

Examples of TCK’s• Traditional TCK’s—Children who move into another

culture with parents due to a parent’s career choice

• Bi/multi-cultural/and/or bi/multi-racial children—Children born to parents from at least two cultures or races

• Children of immigrants—Children whose parents have made a permanent move to a new country where they were not originally citizens

• Children of refugees—Children whose parents are living outside their original country or place due to unchosen circumstances such as war, violence, famine, or other natural disasters

Examples of TCK’s• Children of minorities—Children whose parents are

from a racial or ethnic group which is not part of the majority or ethnicity of the country in which they live

• International adoptees—Children adopted by parents from another country other than the one of that child’s birth

• “Domestic” TCK’s—Children whose parents have moved in or among various subcultures within that child’s home country

Children are often in more than one of these categories at the same time.

IDENTITY

HOW MANY IDENTITIES DO YOU HAVE?

HOW MANY IDENTITIES DOES YOUR CHILD HAVE?

WHAT IS IDENTITY?

Identity “represents the process by which the person seeks to integrate his/her various statuses and roles, as well as his diverse experiences, into a coherent image of self”. (Epstein, 1978)

Answering the question ‘Who am I?’ is one of the biggest tasks of the adolescent (adult?) years.

However, some adolescents may become overwhelmed by the task of identity development and neither explore nor make commitments.

CULTURE

“Culture consists of the values, traditions, social and political relationships, and worldview created, shared, and transformed by a group of people bound together by a common history, geographic location, language, social class, and/or religion.” Nieto (1999)

SIGNIFICANCE OF CULTURE• When we have stayed in a particular culture long enough to

internalize its behaviors and the assumptions behind them, we have an almost intuitive sense of what is right, humorous, appropriate, or offensive in any particular situation. Being “in the know” gives us a sense of stability, deep security, and belonging.

• When we are having to learn and relearn the basic rules by which the world around us is operating, our energies are spent on surviving rather than thriving; struggling to understand what is happening rather than fully participating in the event.

SIGNIFICANCE OF CULTURE

When people first go to another country as adults, they experience culture shock and need a period of adjustment, but their value system, sense of identity, and the establishment of core relationships with family and friends have already developed in the home culture. Their basic sense of who they are and where they belong are intact. Children and adolescents who move among different cultures are doing so before they have formed their own personal and cultural identity.

The “Generic” Stages of Cultural Identity Development Models

• First Stage: Lack of awareness of the importance of culture

• Intermediate Stages: Psychological discomfort, self-examination, association with dominant culture, rejection of dominant culture, over-identification with own culture

• Final Stage: Self-acceptance and appreciation of own culture (which may now be an integration of several other cultures)

Pro’s of Being a TCK

• Greater understanding of other cultures builds sensitivity and awareness

(flexibility, tolerance, respect)• Reflective thinkers—knowing that there are

many ways to approach a given situation and that their way may not be the best way

• Stronger practical skills—observational skills, listening skills, cross-cultural skills, social skills, linguistic skills

Pro’s of Being a TCK

• Quick, adaptable thinkers who are used to thinking outside of the box

• Globally minded and have a keen understanding for what is happening in the world around them

• Develop sensitivity and empathy at an earlier age and at a deeper level

• Mature (in some areas) more quickly—early autonomy, relationship to adults, broad base of knowledge

Pro’s of Being a TCK

• International schools offer enhanced and enriched academic programs and have good links with many universities around the world

• Increased opportunities to travel and experience new cultures first hand—authentic learning experiences

• Drawn to careers associated with service to the community or the world

Con’s of Being a TCK

• Lack of a ‘home base’ means it’s hardfor TCK’s to have an identity of where they are from or

what nationality they truly are, which can create a feeling of emptiness

• The emotional upset of having to say goodbye to people and places on a regular basis

• Educational gaps due to different curriculums being followed at different schools

• Confused loyalties—sense of confusion about complex things such as politics, patriotism, and values

Con’s of Being a TCK• The anger felt toward parents for ‘plucking’ them

away from their ‘home’• The guilt felt that is associated with being angry

at parents• Culture shock• Finding it difficult to make new connections and

friends—”what’s the point if we’re going to move on again soon anyway”—separation anxiety, loneliness and isolation

• Unidentified learning disabilities

Con’s of Being a TCK

• Family disharmony• Unresolved grief/anger—saying goodbye hurts• May not deal well with conflicts. It has always

been easier to ‘outwait’ them, knowing another move is coming soon

• Seen as unpatriotic if a TCK tries to present another culture’s potential viewpoint

• The rootless and restless syndrome. “I don’t belong anywhere.”

What can schools do to help?

• Ensure you have counselors • Ensure you have enough counselors for the

number of students in your school (1:250)• Transition programs• Orientation programs• Advisory programs

What can parents do to help?

• Involve your children in decision-making during the move (to the extent possible)

• Allow your children choices to establish a sense of control in their lives (where to have dinner , what movie to see, etc.)

• Provide time for children to grieve and be supportive of their needs—each move is a TRUE loss for them

• Have a ‘home base’ in what you consider to be your home, that you visit at least once a year where your child has their own room.

What can parents do to help?• Talk about your home culture and keep connected with family still

living in your ‘home base’

• Validate and acknowledge (and at times this may include educating and labeling) the emotions and feelings your child is experiencing; for many people simply discovering that there are legitimate reasons for their feelings not only helps them understand themselves better, it also normalizes their experience.

• Build strong ties in each community in which you live

• Set aside special “family time” and establish family traditions

What can parents do to help?

• Seek help from your school counselor

• Seek help from an outside counselor

• Provide opportunities for your children to express their grief/anger (journaling, scrapbooking, etc.)

• Allow opportunities for children to connect with family and friends back home to help ease the transition into their new culture/home

What can children do to help themselves?

• Research where you are going before you get there

• Be involved in family conversations and decisions about where you are moving to

• Learn about the new country you will be living in prior to moving there

• Connect with your new school via the counselor or a student

What can children do to help themselves?

• Have someone you can talk to about your feelings

• Know that it’s okay to feel overwhelmed and unsure

• Become involved in after school activities, clubs and community events

Interesting Info…

• TCK’s tend to have more in common with one another, regardless of nationality, than they do with non-TCKs from their own country

• TCK’s link, bond and look to their peers for norms and acceptance much more readily than they will do with adults ???

• TCK’s generally are much more successful in higher education and in attaining high level jobs

TCK’s becoming TCA’sWhat happens when your TCK grows up and

goes “home”?

Where to go?

Feeling different from others may cause difficulty in forming peer relationships even more often at the university level or when returning to a "passport" country, where students feel misunderstood by their fellow countrymen.

So what are the options?

“My lack of understanding of common topics of conversation such as TV shows and politics was embarrassing. My gap of knowledge in the modern culture with regard commercials, programs/activities growing up, and that my peers did not understand my experiences, was a constant reminder of my time away from ‘the norm.’ Reverse Culture Shock does exist.”

Warren Heaps, TCK

ACO’s (American Colleges Overseas)Pros

• Student bodies are approximately 50-85% internationals, many of whom are TCK’s

• Diversity and tolerance are the norm

• Peer-to peer support / mentoring • International Networking –

benefits as an Alumni when they become expats themselves

• “Closer to home” – sometimes locations are near family/parents, easing the transition

Cons• Lose the opportunity to

reconnect with home in a concentrated and controlled environment

• Harder to gauge the relative value of some ACO diplomas/schools

• Prolongs the TCK culture so that the transition into a non-TCK culture is significantly delayed

Go someplace new!

Pros• Feed the inner

nomad• Experience new

cultures• Grow a

language• Embrace the

international identity

Cons• Often a new

system of education

• Potential loss of personal identity

• Feelings of helplessness can make this move difficult

Return “home” and reacclimatize

Pros• Chance to reconnect with

home culture and learn what it means to be from a certain country

• Reconnect with family• Far more schooling options• Challenge of new school

environment• Community opportunities

Cons• Sense of not belonging• Ill-equipped to deal with

transitions on own• Superiority/inferiority

complex• Can be far from parents• Often not recognized as

international by university

Questions??