S1/E18: #Third Culture Kids - The Impact of Growing Up Among Worlds with Ruth Van Reken

Show notes

With the increase in international business, military placements, and immigration, there has been a growing number of Third Culture Kids (TCKs) around the globe. In this episode, Frauke and Marie-Christine explore the complexities of the world of Third Culture Kids (TCKs) based on the fact that these individuals grow up being influenced by three cultures: the heritage culture(s), the host-country culture(s), and the culture of expatriates and other TCKs. Although elements from each culture are assimilated into the TCK's life and identity, these individuals often have a greater sense of belonging with other TCKs and the international community rather than with the host or heritage culture.

Culture Chat Frauke and Marie-Christine welcome Ruth E Van Reken, co-author of the ground-breaking, global classic "Third Culture Kids: Growing Up Among Worlds". Together with David C. Pollock, Ruth pioneered the TCK profile by investigating the emotional and psychological realities that come with the TCK journey, often resulting in feelings of rootlessness and grief but also an ability to interact with many cultures. Their definition of what it means to be a TCK is widely referenced: "[A] person who has spent a significant part of his or her developmental years outside the parents' culture.

References

Ruth E Van Reken: Third Culture Kids: Growing Up Among Worlds, 3rd edition.

Ruth Van Reken is a second generation Third Culture Kid (TCK) and mother of three now adult TCKs. She is co-author of Third Culture Kids: Growing Up Among Worlds, 3rd ed., and author of Letters Never Sent, her personal journaling seeking to understand the long-term impact of her cross-cultural childhood. For more than thirty-five years Ruth has traveled extensively speaking about issues related to the impact of global mobility on individuals, families, and societies. She is co-founder and past chairperson of Families in Global Transition. In addition to her two books and many articles, she has written a chapter in other books including Strangers at Home, Unrooted Childhoods, and Writing Out of Limbo. In 2019 she received an Hon. Litt.D from Wheaton College for her life's work. She now lives in Indianapolis, IN with her husband, David.

Connect with Ruth: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ruthvanreken crossculturalkid.org/blog/ (Blog)

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