What exactly is a TCK? A Global Nomad? A Bi-cultural kid? A Cross-Cultural Kid? A Trans-Cultural Kid? Why do we use these terms, what do they mean, and which one should we use?
Any time a name, an identity, a label, is assigned to a group of people, there will be those to welcome it, those who contest it, and those who are just plain confused. If we are to interact with a specific group, it is usually to our advantage to know what to call them, what that means, and why we assign them a certain label.
In this first of two posts about the term "TCK," I will talk about the history and meaning of the term, as well as other terms out there and why they might be used. In the second part, I will talk about why I, in particular, choose to use the term "TCK," as well as why others might not choose to use that label.
The term "TCK" was first made popular by the book "Third Culture Kids: Growing up Among Worlds" by David Pollock and Ruth Van Reken, commonly referred to as the "TCK Bible." This book was one of the first, and most comprehensive, to describe the phenomenon of children being raised in a part of the world other than the one their parents are from.
In this situation, the culture of the parent is thought of as the "First Culture," the host culture that the family moves to is the "Second Culture." The children, who grow up as a sort of hybrid of the two cultures are thought to create a "Third Culture," which is neither here nore there.
This Third Culture is highly unique, depending on the first and second cultures, the reasons for relocation, the length of time spent in which countries, etc.
However, as Pollock and Van Reken observed, these "Third Culture Kids" seem to share many traits, leading the authors to believe that this "Third Culture" actually carries many similarities across the multiple forms it takes. Hence, the term "TCK" began to be used as a label, to describe this group of globally mobile, culturally unique, children and the Adult Third Culture Kids that they grow into, or "ATCKs."
There are of course as many kinds of TCKs as there are people who identify as TCKs. Some of the "sub-categories" of TCKs are "Missionary Kids" (children of cross-cultural church workers), "Army Brats" (children of highly mobile military families), "Cross-Cultural Kids," (children of migrant parents who permanently move to a new country), and many more.
There are also many other terms that have been proposed and used for this group of people, which certain variations of meaning:
"Global Nomad" often is used when the indivual identifies as defined by their global lifestyle regardless of age (hence, not a "kid").
"Bi-Cultural Kid" is often used to denote a child who moves back and forth between two cultures, equally at home in each. Particularly, children of migrants who may speak one language at home and another outside the home.
"Trans-Cultural Kid" is another, newer term, used to combat the possible negative connotation of a 'TCK" not being at home in either the first or second culture. In contrast, the term "Trans-cultural" seeks to define these children as being equally at home in any of their cultures, much like the "Bi-Cultural" kid.
"Triangle" is a term often used for adults who experience some the same characteristics of TCKs, as a result of a cross-cultural move. The term derives from the idea that the first culture is a "square," the second a "circle," and that after moving between them, the person becomes a "triangle" -- neither of one culture nor the other.
Obviously, the experiences and possible labels of these indivuals are extremely varied: part of the unique challenge of being a part of this group of hard-to-define people! All of these ideas and labels are used for a reason: they do attempt to describe a way of life, a set of exerpiences, a set of feelings.
In the next post, I will attempt to explain why I prefer to use the term "TCK," as well as why it is ok if others do not!