By Sun Young (Kate) Park, Special Contributor for Globalization Issues
“I have no country to fight for; my country is the earth, and I am a citizen of the world.” - Eugene V. Debs
‘Immigration’ was definitely a keyword in 2016. Syrian refugees, Brexit, European bans on traditional Islamic attire, and the recent U.S. presidential elections showed us how immigration is no doubt a central issue in international affairs. Unfortunately, tensions surrounding immigration are unlikely to dissipate in the future as global warming leads to a rising number of climate refugees in search of a new home.
When talking about immigration, political speeches are full of ‘us’ versus ‘them’ rhetoric. However, is it possible for someone to identify with both groups? The answer is yes. Such individuals are known as Third Culture Kids or Adult Third Culture Kids. You may actually know some individuals who are part of this community. Most often, they are children of immigrant families, missionaries, diplomats, military personnel, employees of international companies, and refugees. In fact, President Obama was a Third Culture Kid. He spent several years of his childhood in Indonesia. Due to this background and his involvements in Chicago helping minorities, perhaps it is no surprise that he strongly advocated for immigrant-friendly policies, such as the DACA program.
The term ‘Third Culture Kids’ (TCK) was first coined in the 1950s by two social scientists, Dr. John and Dr. Ruth Hill Useem. They defined a TCK as a person who has spent a significant part of his or her developmental years outside the parents’ culture. In other words, they are neither fully part of their parents’ culture also known as the ‘1st culture,’ nor fully part of the culture of the host country – also known as the ‘2nd culture.’
Rather, they live in a ‘third culture’ which is a lifestyle shared by expatriates or diasporas. As a result, they build relationships with all the cultures with which they interact but lack full ownership of any. They feel a sense of belonging with others of similar background. TCKs are thus also known as cultural chameleons or global nomads.
Why are TCKs relevant to discussions on immigration? Their perspective on immigration and global citizenship can be not only eye-opening, but also useful. First, they offer us new ideas encouraging us to rethink our overused, repeated and outdated perceptions on immigration. Because they have lived in different countries among different people, TCKs possess a more expanded worldview, higher adaptability or flexibility, cross-cultural and linguistic skills. Most importantly, from a young age, they understand that friendship and respect have nothing to do with skin color or cultural differences.
Second, we can prevent or ameliorate negative outcomes of global migration by learning from TCK experiences. Just like anything else, TCKs also suffer from drawbacks. Globalization and highly mobile lifestyles often leave these kids feeling uprooted, confused about their national loyalties, and uncertain about their own identities. These traits are common among social misfits who either sympathize or identify with terrorist groups. Redressing such negative effects can help countries avert floundering integration.
Third, learning about both positive and negative TCK experiences can help politicians and organizations to better outline immigration policies in the face of rising xenophobia. Meanwhile academia should diversify research populations by including TCKs in studies, amplifying our comprehension of global migration.
Our globalized world has made tremendous strides in the financial and technological sector. Sadly, advancements in social and cultural areas have often been met with lethargy, ignorance or backlash. It is time to truly fix our out-of-date systems and perceptions of what ‘globalization’ even means in the socio-cultural field. Of course, with more multiracial populations on the rise, public opinion on ethnicity, national identity, and most importantly, belonging will improve.
At the very least, there is more room for discussion. After all, TCKs are perhaps individuals who have experienced the first waves of modern globalization, global migration and global citizenship in the 21st century.
Sun Young (Kate) Park is a senior at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign where she studies Global Studies and Spanish. This piece is based on and inspired by D. C. Pollock and R. E. Van Reken’s Third Culture Kids - The Experience of Growing Up Among Worlds.
