“I am not weird, I am Third Culture Kids”: Identifying Enabling Modalities for Place Identity Construction among High Mobility Populations
Journal Title: Journal of Identity and Migration Studies - Year 2018, Vol 12, Issue 2
Abstract
The paper aims to identify the enabling modalities embedded in adult Third Culture Kids (TCKs) –individuals who experienced numerous life disruptions as they move between countries during their developmental years as a result of their parents’ employment– in constructing their place identity. An asynchronous Facebook online focus group was used to reach out to the adult TCKs from three different cohorts (young adult, adult and middle adulthood, N=33 persons), who lived scattered around the world. The findings concur with literature that TCKs find themselves to continuously questioning their sense of belonging; battling with validating their upbringing. The middle adult TCK (aged >40 years and above) are only aware of their TCK-ness in their adult life and reporting the scuffle in community involvement. The adult TCK (aged 30-40 years) face a dilemma of contentment and wanderlust. While the young adult TCK (aged 19 -20 years) are more aware and exposed to the term TCK, they are actively involved in introducing their presence –being a TCK- to the society. In making sense of their high mobility experiences, the adult TCKs yield the need for stability, belonging, direction, connectedness, and sense of community throughout their developmental stages of life. Implication of the findings and advice are offered for stakeholders involved in TCK’s upbringing, especially family and future expatriates family in ensuring the well-being of TCK in their adult life.
Authors and Affiliations
Anastasia Aldelina LIJADI
Keywords
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“I am not weird, I am Third Culture Kids”: Identifying Enabling Modalities for Place Identity Construction among High Mobility Populations
The paper aims to identify the enabling modalities embedded in adult Third Culture Kids (TCKs) –individuals who experienced numerous life disruptions as they move between countries during their developmental years as a r...