Belonging, Identity, and TCKs - STSSustainabilityStudiesMethods

Helen Fail, Jeff Thompson, George Walker
What is a TCK?
• 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 frequently builds relationships to all of the
cultures, while not having full ownership in any.
• Although elements from each culture may be
assimilated into the TCK's life experience, the sense
of belonging is in relationship to others of similar
background.
The Researchers
Helen Fail
Oxford Brookes University, UK
Jeff Thompson
University of Bath, UK
George Walker
IBO, Geneva, Switzerland
Sense of Belonging
• Wide range of answers to where TCKs felt
most at home
– More than 1 country
– Everywhere and nowhere
– Rootless
• Attitudes have shifted
– 1987 vs 2000s
Reverse Cultural Shock
Identity in TCKs
• Identities tend to be founded upon their goals
and aspirations rather than upon their
background
• Also: mixed race children
• TCK identity, national identity, ethnic identity
Marginality
• ‘marginal men’: people who had immigrated
and therefore did not fully belong
• Encapsulated marginality vs. constructive
marginality
• Always being the ‘other’
Valerie Jarrett
Timothy Geithner
James L. Jones
Colors by Whitni Thomas (1991)
I grew up in a Yellow country
But my parents are Blue.
I'm Blue.
Or at least, that is what they told me.
But I play with the Yellows.
I went to school with the Yellows.
I spoke the Yellow language.
I even dressed and appeared to be Yellow.
Then I moved to the Blue land.
Now I go to school with the Blues.
I speak the Blue language.
I even dress and look Blue.
But deep down, inside me, something's Yellow.
I love the Blue country.
But my ways are tinted with Yellow.
When I am in the Blue land,
I want to be Yellow.
When I am in the Yellow land,
I want to be Blue.
Why can't I be both?
A place where I can be me.
A place where I can be green.
I just want to be green.
Extraneous Sources
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http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2008/11/26/obamas-thirdculture-team.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Third_culture_kid
http://wanjennifer.tripod.com/
http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/2065.pdf
Article:
http://www.uk.sagepub.com/jandt6estudy/study/chapters/12/Fail.pdf
Image Sources
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http://www.slidegeeks.com/pics/tpl/l/c/compass_travel_powerpoint_template_1010_title.jpg
http://wallpaper.goodfon.com/image/98168-1600x1200.jpg
http://images.politico.com/global/news/101215_obama_smile_tax_reut_605.jpg
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valerie_Jarrett
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timothy_Geithner
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_L._Jones
http://www.ispaweb.org/website_images/flags.jpg
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http://www.zoominfo.com/#!search/profile/person?personId=1668063196&targetid=profile
http://www.intedalliance.org/page.cfm?p=385
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