Feeling Othered: A third culture kid perspective

Abstract

Third culture kids (TCKs) are children who have spent a significant amount of their developmental years outside of their parents’ culture(s), normally due to the mobility of their parents’ jobs (such as diplomats, international-school teachers, economic expatriates, missionaries). This paper explores the lived experiences of adult third culture kids (ATCKs) and their existential concerns of belonging, identity and authenticity.