Source #1
Bowman, Darcia Harris. “Identities Blur for ‘Third Culture Kids’.” Education Week 9 May 2001: 8-13. Academic Search Premier. EBSCOhost. Augsburg College Library, Minneapolis, MN. 13 Nov. 2005
< http://ezproxy.augsburg.edu/login?url=http://search.epnet.com/login.aspx
?direct=true&db=aph&an=4696781>.
Bowman presents the pros and cons to growing up outside of one’s own country. Using several families as examples, she presents the difficulty British children have in assimilating into Midwest society in the U.S. They view the Midwest as insular and therefore a difficult place for their children to be themselves. The author underscores the greater difficulty though in re-entering one’s birth or passport country. Two examples are given of the identity crisis people go through when confronting this move. Through sociologists, Bowman also presents the positive gains in raising a child abroad – multiculturalism, multilingualism and adaptability.
The author’s professional title or affiliation was not noted at the end of the article. After searching on the internet I was only able to determine that she is widely published within the area of education. The author appears credible and unbiased. Her main point is to address the difficulties inherent in raising a child abroad and ultimately re-entering the home country. She contends the central issue is how the child identifies himself, which is tricky when you feel you belong to all cultures, and none, at the same time.
I can use the author’s specific examples of difficulty in assimilating into foreign cultures and re-entry into home country as counterarguments to my premises.
Source #2
Brook, Judith. “The Protective Role of Ethnic and Racial Identity and Aspects of
an Africentric Orientation Against Drug Use Among African American Young
Adults.” Journal of Genetic Psychology. 166 (2005): 329-345. Academic Search Premier. EBSCOhost. Anoka Ramsey Community Coll. Lib., Anoka, MN. 27 Sep. 2005 <http://search.epnet.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=aph&an=18291113>.
Brook contends that the group(s) with which we identify ourselves have a great influence on us when it comes to corruptive forces. She discusses African American youth and drug abuse, noting that the tighter knit the community, and the stronger the ethnic identity, the less likely a minor is to get involved in drugs.
I can use this same analogy and apply it to TCKs. The TCK community is tight, as this is often the only group in which a TCK feels they truly belong. As such, this communal group has great influence over its members. The statistics support this, as more than 80% of TCKs continue their education and complete 4-year degrees at college. Because TCKs are typically very successful in life, that expectation serves as a positive influence on young TCKs. This positive influence supports my thesis that children are served well by being raised abroad.
Source #3
Fletcher, Andy. “The Homeless VIPs.” Christianity Today 5 Mar. 2001: 80-83. Academic Search Premier. EBSCOhost. Augsburg College Library, Minneapolis, MN. 13 Nov. 2005 <http://ezproxy.augsburg.edu/login?url=http://search.epnet.com/login.aspx>.
Fletcher is an expatriate, and director of a youth ministry organization, writing about the experience of children being raised outside of their own country. He introduces the reader to several children who help to define the term “Third Culture Kid” (TCK). He relies on expert evidence to provide arguments for and against raising children abroad. The author is a journalist for a Christian publication, and includes in his article the effort of evangelists to reach out to TCKs in their ministry.
The author’s main purpose is to expose the TCK subgroup because in his view it is “…one of the most neglected, and most influential, unreached people groups.” He examines the frustration of TCKs as they try to determine their identity. He also points to the influential parentage of these children. Together, they are a group ripe for conversion! This ultimately shows his agenda as well as that of the publication he writes for. Most of the experts he refers to in the article are academic types, to include Ruth Useem, the professor who originally coined the term Third Culture Kid. He does not cite them specifically, but does state their credentials within his article. Overall, his sources are credible, and he does provide specific children’s experiences to support his points.
I will use his examples of struggling with identity as counterarguments to my premises.
Source #4
Herman, Robin. “Staying Abroad and Staying Well; When a Family Leaves America, It Pays to Plan for the Children’s Health.” The Washington Post 3 Mar. 1998: Z07 ProQuest. Anoka Ramsey Community College, Coon Rapids, MN. 15 Nov. 2005
http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?did=26890969&Fmt=3&clientId=43987&RQT=309&VName=PQD>.
The author brings up physical and mental health concerns that accompany a move abroad. Physical concerns can range from a lack of preventative health care in many countries outside of the U.S., to endemic diseases in third world countries. The stress caused by moving to a foreign country is the tip of the iceberg for psychological concerns. The author provides specific symptoms of psychological stress found in kids who have just moved abroad, such as bed-wetting, thumb sucking, acting out and developmental regression.
Citing various psychologists, the author provides suggestions for easing the stress of the move. Open communication between parent and child is key. However, the author suggests that moving teenagers, particularly in their last years of high school is not advisable. For health reasons, the cited doctors recommend following the normal vaccination and dental schedules as in the U.S., even if that means scheduling trips home to coincide with this. One health risk not often thought about is air quality. The author provides an example of an American woman raising her kids in Sao Paolo where the air quality is particularly bad and her children suffer from bronchial problems.
The main point of this article is to point out considerations when deciding to move your family abroad. I am not sure how or if I will use this in my research paper, but the information is interesting and thought provoking.
Source #5
Holmstrom, David. “Strangers in Their Own Land.” Christian Science Monitor 10 Nov. 1998: 14. Academic Search Premier. EBSCOhost. Augsburg College Library, Minneapolis, MN. 13 Nov. 2005
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Holmstrom is a staff writer for the Christian Science Monitor and writes about the difficulty TCKs face with repatriation, but also of the resources available to help them with this transition. His view is slightly slanted against raising kids abroad, and this is evident when he writes, “In the best of all possible outcomes, TCKs grow up to be the prototype multilingual citizen and ideal worker of the future, sought after professionally as markets and jobs expand globally.”
His central point is to lay out possible sources of relief for TCK repatriates. The various websites and consulting firms he mentions serve to provide the TCK with a sense of what to expect, letting them know that their apprehension, and feelings of not quite belonging are normal for TCKs. He does include a success story of an American who repatriated to Georgia after living abroad. She has found a good balance between feeling content with her life in the U.S., but also her great comfort level when around other TCKs.
I will use this last example to support the benefits of living abroad (i.e., repatriation concerns shouldn’t keep one from living abroad.)
Source #6
Lublin, Joann S. “Your Career Matters: To Smooth a Transfer Abroad, a New Focus on Kids.” The Wall Street Journal 26 Jan. 1999: B1. ProQuest. Anoka Ramsey Community College, Coon Rapids, MN. 15 Nov. 2005
http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?did=38433920&Fmt=3&clientId=43987&RQT=309&VName=PQD>.
Lublin, a staff reporter for the paper, writes of the prevalence of American businesspeople sent abroad for work. Many U.S. corporations have initiated transition counseling for the families of their employees, often enabling the employee to fulfill the full term of their placement. Unhappy families are the number one reason foreign assignments are cut short, costing corporations large amounts of money.
The author provides an example of an American youth moving to China who was unwilling to go until she was introduced by telephone to a Canadian student in China, who was able to allay her fears. An American teen returning after living for several years in Europe was angry at her parent for having to go back to the U.S. She missed the freedom she had amongst her European peers. After a counseling session with another repatriated teen she understood that her reaction was normal and she was better able to cope.
The author’s main point seems to be that moving kids abroad is manageable (he does not say it is positive or negative) when proper support is in place. This will serve as the answer to many of the counterarguments I will face in my paper.
Source #7
Pasch, Pamela. “A Precious 3-Year Old Encounters Morroco.” Christian Science Monitor 21 Feb. 2001: 13. ProQuest. Anoka Ramsey Community College. 15 Nov. 2005
http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?did=68852342&Fmt=3&clientId=43987&RQT=309&VName=PQD>.
The author is a mother of a three year old, and recently relocated to Morocco. As a child raised in a Foreign Service family, she always hoped to create a similar experience for her own child. Her job is not specifically stated, but she seems to be a free-lance writer for this publication.
Her article is biased. She is very much in favor of raising her child abroad and cites cultural understanding and patience as great benefits her child has derived from this experience.
I will use this example to support my contention that there are great benefits to raising a child abroad – so much so that second generations chose to continue the trend.
Source #8
Perry, Vanessa. “Who Is in Control? The Role of Self-Perception, Knowledge, and
Income in Explaining Consumer Financial Behavior.” Journal of Consumer Affairs 39 (2005): 299-313. Academic Search Premier. EBSCOhost. Anoka Ramsey Community Coll. Lib., Anoka, MN. 27 Sep. 2005 <http://search.epnet.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=aph&an=18083279>.
Vanessa Perry says that our identity determines how we handle external factors. She uses the example of historic prejudice against African Americans in the work place as an influence that makes this group better prepared when times are tough. They expect such treatment and are prepared for its effects. Their identification with a group has enabled them to prepare for such external factors.
A TCK’s identity is tied to the expatriate community. By it’s very nature, the expatriate community is highly educated and well paid. Identifying with this group, TCKs are likely to follow similar patterns in academic and financial success. This analogy supports my thesis that children have much to gain form being raised abroad.
Source #9
Schuler, Corinna. “When No Place Feels Like Home: U.S. Students Schooled Abroad Often Gain the World – but Sometimes Lose their Bearings.” Christian Science Monitor 23 Dec. 2003: 14. ProQuest. Anoka Ramsey Community College, Coon Rapids, MN. 15 Nov. 2005
http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?did=508147311&Fmt=3&clientId=43987&RQT=309&VName=PQD>.
The author is a staff writer who interviews students from the international School of Bangkok. She provides statistics on the number of American students raised abroad. She reports on the advantages a student has living abroad, such as multilingualism, firsthand knowledge of geography and world cultures, and a keen sense of international affairs. She does point out though that TCKs have difficulty finding a cultural identity.
She also reports on reverse culture shock and cites a survey of repatriated Americans where over 90% reported feeling out of touch with American culture upon their return. She also provides statistics on the much higher college attendance and Masters completion rates of TCKs over U.S. educated students. She also notes the benefit TCKs have of being recruited by the best universities and employers around the world.
This balanced article supports my thesis completely. The benefits of raising children abroad are so great, it is advisable to do so rather than raise them at home.
Source #10
“U-M study shows racial identity can boost academic performance.” Michigan Chronicle.6 Aug. 2003: A1. ProQuest. Anoka Ramsey Community Coll. Lib., Anoka, MN. 27 Sep. 2005 <http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?did=424346701&Fmt=3&clientId=43987&RQT=309&VName=PQD>.
The author uses ethnicity and nationality as two forces that can positively affect student success when the student feels a sense of pride in both. The author speaks specifically of racial identity, but any group one strongly identifies with can have strong influences.
TCKs identify primarily with their international TCK community, more than their home country. This is a form of self-identification, and can lead to greater success when they attribute these successes to their identity (TCK). This argument supports my thesis that raising a child abroad has tremendous benefits.